Annalisa gets defensive. “What? You think I’m lying? If I hit her, I’d tell you I hit her.”

“I’m not saying you’re lying,” Mason says, trying to think out his next words carefully. “I’m saying I don’t think her intention was to get beaten up just to blame you.”

“I agree with Mason,” I jump in, ignoring the cut eyes Annalisa’s sending me. “She probably came home like that and when her mom asked her who did it, she blamed the person who made the most sense to her. Maybe Ryan even told her to blame you.”

Mason smiles at me. It’s warm but makes me feel so far away from him. It’s a smile that I can’t return since I’m a terrible person who still hasn’t told him about his dad, because I just can’t bear to keep breaking his heart.

“I can’t believe you of all people are picking her over me!” Annalisa exclaims.

She’s angry. She’s not willing to listen to anything other than “Let’s go kick Kaitlyn’s ass!” But still, I try to reason with her.

“I’m not picking her over you. But if those bruises and her arm being in a sling weren’t caused by you, the next probable suspect is Ryan, and that means she’s probably being abused,” I say.

Beside me, Aiden’s jaw clenches. He knows all too well what it’s like to be abused, especially at the hands of a Simms. He of all people knows what kind of violence Ryan witnessed as a kid, and what he’s probably replicating.

“I can’t believe you.” Her leg bounces like she’s about to jump out of her seat. “I’ve always had your back when she pulled her shit on you at school!”

“I still have your back,” I insist. “I’m not saying any of this is your fault. But there’s a difference between her trying to embarrass me with stupid and cruel pranks and her coming to school with a black eye and a sprained wrist. You’ve always had my back and I love you, but intimate partner violence is serious, and she needs help. If we help her, she might even clear your name and admit who really did that to her.”

Annalisa leans back farther into her seat with angry resignation. “If you think she’d ever help us, you’re delusional.”

“The only way you’ll be allowed to come back to school is if she tells her mom you didn’t touch her.” Aiden backs me up.

“Guess I’m going to have to get used to the fact that I’m going to graduate as a Silver, alone,” she huffs, then continues when Julian is about to say something. “And no, I don’t want any of you to transfer.” She gives Julian a pointed look and his shoulders slump, as they’ve had this conversation already.

I’m about to tell her that she’ll never be alone when her phone rings and she answers it. The conversation continues around us, and I decide to go to the kitchen to get some water.