Daph swished over in a strapless turquoise gown that really set off her red hair. It hugged her slim figure and fell to her feet in a silky waterfall. She and Rahul were going as friends, but as she’d put it, “that doesn’t mean I should dress like some basic bitch.”

Isha and Raina came out of the bathroom then, Isha dressed in a burnt-orange gown and Raina in a black one that made her look much older.

“You look gorgeous,” Raina said, looking at Jaya.

Jaya gathered the strength for yet another smile. She didn’t want Isha to see the depths of her fatigue, her despair. “So do the both of you.” She got her little embroidered purse out of the closet. “Who’s ready for the big night?” Jaya couldn’t help but notice that her words fell flat, as if she were announcing the weather rather than a dance.

Jaya, Daph, Isha, Raina, and Penelope all approached the grand staircase and waited to descend one at a time. There were mostly girls at the top and boys at the bottom of the stairs, though it was hard to see or hear individual people in the glittering, boisterous mass of privileged children of billionaires, politicians, and movie stars.

The curving oak balustrade had been festooned with blue-and-silver velvet and silk ribbons and glittering flowers. Taller in her heels, Jaya could barely make out Leo waiting at the bottom, watching with glee as Samantha Wickers descended, wearing a spectacular golden gown with a sheer, flowing train. Her blue eyes looked fierce behind her eyeliner. So Sam had said yes. Jaya felt a touch of dim happiness for Leo.

Rahul was at the bottom too, standing off to the side until Daph descended, as if he were just waiting for the whole thing to be over. Jaya noticed he kept looking at Caterina (who was going with a senior boy Jaya couldn’t remember the name of) at the top of the stairs and looking away, his ears pink.

Dr. Waverly, Coach Stratton, and Ms. Rivard, the psychology teacher, as well as a few other adults fixed hair clips and bow ties and zippers. Jaya kept her distance, not wanting to be fussed over.

Of their group, Penelope went down first, looking pretty and shy (Trinity was already at the bottom, waiting with a cluster of her friends. She didn’t have eyes for anyone except Penelope). Then a few other girls descended, followed by two guys, and then Isha.