She crosses her arms, hugging her notebook to her chest. I’m not sure if it’s possible for her to hate me any more than she does in this moment. Her tone could only be about one thing. Kane. Kane giving me a flower on Valentine’s Day. Kane hanging with me at the party, when he should have been with her. “I know you hate me. But I want to know what happened the days before Declan died.”

She laughs bitterly. “What happened? Kane said your mind was messed up. You really don’t remember anything?”

I shake my head. “I really don’t.”

“That’s probably a good thing. Because if I did what you’d done, I don’t think I could show myself in public again,” she says.

My skin blooms with goose bumps. “What do you mean?”

“You used to look at me like I was pathetic, because I loved Kane, even though he wasn’t the best of boyfriends. But you know what?” Her pretty face is wrapped in a snarl. “You were worse. In fact, you’re so obsessed with the Weeks boys that you didn’t want anyone else to have them.”

I stand there, frozen. People sweep by us in the hallway, but some drag their feet, watching as Luisa rails at me, her voice gradually getting louder.

Luisa getting riled up is enough to gain attention, but when she starts poking me in the chest with every word, more people stop. I back away, until I’m pressed against the wall. “So if you don’t remember what happened, I’ll fill you in. The last time I spoke to you was at Declan’s funeral. I told you that you and I were done as friends, and that I didn’t want to see your face again. And I mean it. You disgusted me then, and even more now.”

My face is hot. People around us are whispering. Tears threaten to pour from my eyes. “But why?”

“Why do you think?” She looks around, surprised by the crowd that’s gathered. She leans in and whispers, “He told me how you hounded him. All those games you played. If you want to know who’s responsible for Declan’s death, look in the mirror.”

She spins on her heel, opening the door to the cafeteria and sliding inside, as the period bell clangs above me.

39 Days Before

The first week back to school after winter break sucked. The high temperatures were in the single digits, and all the Christmas presents and decorations and cheer that made winter fun were over. Summer wasn’t in sight. All we had on our schedules? Months of more bleak, dark cold. The only thing I could say I was looking forward to? Valentine’s Day. Ordinarily, I dreaded the holiday, but this was my first Valentine’s Day as part of a couple.

I. Couldn’t. Wait.