Brooke was a veritable bundle of excitement and sparkles the next day. She laughed—too loudly—at everything, floated around the halls, and grinned at everyone who walked past.

My own feet had never felt quite so heavy.

“She was really nice to my mom, and Mom loves that she does so many extracurricular things,” Brooke had gushed to me in homeroom.

“Did you know how smart Ray is? I mean, obviously she’s smart, but her grasp on language is just mind-blowing,” Brooke had whispered while I tried to take notes in math.

“I thought we were going to kiss when she said good-bye, but then we chickened out,” Brooke had recounted for the fourth time as we walked to history.

Every time I’d put on a tight smile, and “hmm”ed and “wow”ed when appropriate, all while hoping my agony wasn’t written on my face. It was getting to be such torture to be around her, and to know her lit-up face, and giggles, and swinging feet were caused by Ray, and not me, I was grateful to get a text from Brougham to meet me in the halls halfway through history class. I’d rather be around his drizzle and storm clouds than Brooke’s rainbow right now.

I got a pass for the bathroom and headed in the direction of the science labs, where I found Brougham hovering, keeping an eye out for teachers or other potential eavesdroppers. He’d paired his blazer with tan, skinny chinos and a dark maroon tie. Though his outfit was coordinated and neat, his posture was stiff and he was bouncing on his heels, frazzled.

“Hey, walk with me,” he said as soon as I got close enough, heading down the hall.

“Yes, sir.”

He ignored my tone. “I did what you said, and she was the one who brought up taking a day trip there as friends, so right now I’m convinced you’re either a witch or a genius.”

“And I’ll never let you know which one it is. That’s great, when are you going?”

“Saturday.”

“Did you wanna catch up beforehand so we can make a plan?”

“Definitely. Also, I really need you with me on the day.”

I stopped in my tracks. “At Disneyland?” He wanted me to drive an hour each way to Anaheim for him, just casually?

“I can’t do it without you, I’m pretty much stuffed if things start going wrong, and if you can’t see her body language how are you supposed to know what happened and help me fix it?”

“She’d notice me.”

“I trust you. You’re not an idiot.”

“Glad to know you trust my stalking skills, I guess?”

“Bring Ainsley with you if you want. I’ll give you gas money, I’ll get your tickets, pay for your food, whatever you need. I just … I need you. I can’t do this alone.”