“You don’t have a fever,” she said before telling Axl to go get me some water.

“Do you need to throw up?” Karly asked, prompting most of the kids to instinctively lean away. I shook my head. “Well, can you tell me what hurts?”

“Nothing, exactly,” I said truthfully. “I just feel really weird. Like there are stars in one of my eyes. And I feel light-headed.”

“I think you’re dehydrated,” she said. “Let’s get you some water, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll call your aunt to come and get you.” I was glad that people were starting to refocus on their work. Izzy was still watching me, though. “I’ll be right back,” Karly said. “I’m going to see if there’s a Popsicle in the back room.”

“Talk about dramatic,” Jackie muttered after Karly had left, loudly enough for everyone to hear. “Way to make the day about you, Tess.”

“You did not just say that,” Girl Sam said, snapping her head to the side. “You should talk! You think the world revolves around you.”

“I do not,” Jackie snapped.

Girl Sam tsked. “Listen, you don’t know what’s going on with every other person in the world, all right? Maybe other people are going through things you know nothing about.” She pursed her lips together. “I mean her best friend just died. Cut her some slack.”

“What?” Jasmine asked, right as Axl returned with the water. He set it on my desk while Jasmine pummeled me with questions. “Is that true? Why didn’t you say anything? What happened? Are you okay?”

“I didn’t really want anyone to know,” I said, using my hand to shield my eyes like a visor. I wanted someone to turn off the lights.

“Oh, damn,” Girl Sam said, slapping her hand over her mouth. “I’m so sorry, Tess. I forgot it was a secret.”

I caught Izzy’s knowing glance; he didn’t say anything.

Jackie looked at Girl Sam, muttering, “Way to go.”

“It’s okay,” I told Sam. “It was an accident.” I closed my sketchbook and put it away, then stood and slung my bag over my shoulder, feeling like my head was a balloon that was going to float off into the sky. I needed to leave. “I’m going to find Karly.”

“I’ll go with you,” Izzy said, getting up and moving toward the door. When we were almost there, he said to Jackie, “Forget the birthday cake this year, okay?” He gestured at me. “She’s making it.”

Even with one eye, I saw Jackie’s stricken expression.

In the hall leading to the main part of the library, Izzy whispered, “I didn’t mean . . . You don’t need to make me a cake. It’s so weird and old-school that she does that. I don’t want anyone to make me a cake, except maybe my mom. I just wanted her to know . . .”