He shouts my name as I go, but I ignore him as I run from the lighting booth, down the small staircase, and to the main auditorium. Tears prick my eyes, the saltiness stinging my still-tender skin.

Asad’s not the idiot; I am. One little eye surgery and suddenly I’m going to have a happily-ever-after.

The surgery couldn’t fix this.

It couldn’t fix me.

As I flee to the parking lot, I almost barrel into Kenzie and Piper.

“Whoa, whoa, where’s the fire?” Kenzie immediately covers her mouth, her eyes wide. “I swear I did not mean that.”

Piper’s still back in her wheelchair, her face red, mascara smeared. The tear streak down Kenzie’s cheek tells me I’ve walked into the middle of an argument. I brush past them both. The last thing I need is to get involved in more drama.

But Kenzie stops me, her hand on my shoulder.

“I think we should talk. Maybe at my house? I can’t go into this play with all these bad feelings—”

I shake Kenzie off and start walking. Piper wheels next to me.

“Yeah, Ava and I already have plans.”

I stare down at her. Did she know Asad liked her? Does she like him?

I turn back to Kenzie. “Actually, maybe I will come over.”

Piper taps hard on my arm and half whispers, “Umm. What are you doing? You are not going with her.”

I look down at her. “You’re not in charge of who I hang out with. I’ll go if I want.”

Kenzie raises her eyebrows. “I think we all—”

“Butt out,” Piper says.

Kenzie holds up her hands and backs away, but not too far, loitering within earshot as Piper tugs my sleeve to bring me closer to her. I resist.

“Ava, what are you doing? We talked about this. She’s just using you to get to me.”

I yank my arm from her grip. “Right. Because you can’t imagine a world where everything doesn’t revolve around you.”

Piper sits back in her chair, lowering her voice so Kenzie can’t hear us. “I thought we were past this. I told you to do whatever you want, just not her, okay?”

“Oh, okay. Then how about Asad? You know, the guy who was only my friend as a favor to you.”

This piece of information surprises her, judging by her halting response. “No, it was— It wasn’t like that. I just asked him—”

“You asked him to take pity on me. And he did it because surprise, surprise, he likes you. But I’m guessing you already knew that.”

Piper picks at the wrist of her compression garments.

“You did, didn’t you? You knew all along?” I press.

She doesn’t look up. “Yes.”