A shuffling in the doorway drew Maddie’s attention. A pale white girl with springy dark blonde curls clutched the plastic handle of an old metal suitcase plastered with stickers.

“Maybe you could show a little more respect,” Lucy said.

Maddie whipped her head back to Lucy. “What’s he done, truly?”

Lucy’s eyes widened. “He’s changed the world.”

“Not in a good way.” Maddie swung her legs off the top bunk, balanced on the bottom mattress, and dropped to the floor.

“He’s the reason we’re here.”

“Not my reason,” Maddie mumbled.

The girl in the doorway jostled from one foot to the other the way Danny did when he refused to admit he drank too much orange soda.

“Are you going to come in or not?” Maddie snapped—and immediately regretted it.

SIX

NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME • When a product is not quite finished or is finished in such a way that it will hinder its ability to compete in the marketplace

“SORRY,” MADDIE SAID.

Delia knew it was Maddie because she knew what Lucy looked like from her Pulse profile picture.

That.

Petite face, thick hair, a hint of bronzer on her cheeks . . . it was like she’d stepped out of a “Ten Ways to Get Fit for Summer!” spread in a magazine.

And Delia was sweating in the coat that had been too light when she woke up this morning back home in Littlewood.

Had she really left home?

Was this really going to be her home?

Delia clutched the handle of her mom’s old suitcase tighter. “It’s okay. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Lucy laughed. “Can’t interrupt when it’s your room too. Entrez-vous, dear Delia.”

“Entrez,” Maddie said.

“That’s what I said.”

“No, it’s not. You said ‘entrez-vous.’ You asked if she was coming in, when I’m assuming you meant to simply invite her in.”

“I’ve had four years of French,” Lucy said.

“I’ve had six,” Maddie countered.

And all Delia had had were French fries and French toast. She forced herself to step into the room. “Uh, yeah, well, sorry I’m late. I missed my connection in Orlando.”

“Orlando?” Lucy grabbed a fancy notebook off the desk and started flipping through. “I thought you were from Chicago?”

“Um, not exactly. But that’s where I left from.”

“Why not fly direct?” Lucy asked.

“Why not let the girl put her bag down before you ask twenty questions?” Maddie said.

Delia hugged the wall, missing Cassie, the only person she’d ever shared a room with until now. She shifted the weight of her suitcase from one hand to the other, waiting for her two roommates to challenge each other to whatever the Silicon Valley equivalent of a duel was.

Silicon Valley.