It’s my turn to scowl. “I don’t really think the gym is my thing.”

“That’s true.” Fitz agrees. “You always cut PE.”

I snort. “Yeah, I think I probably would’ve ended up being the first student ever to fail gym class if I…”

I have to take a deep breath that leaves my lungs no room to spare and tilt my head toward the window so Fitz doesn’t see my face when I exhale.

“Where are we going, anyway?” I change the subject.

He drums his hands against the steering wheel. “I do like to let loose sometimes.”

“Color me shocked,” I snark. “And what’s your idea of letting loose exactly?”

Fitz slows down, pulling into a large, relatively empty parking lot.

“Was I wrong yesterday? Are drugs your idea of letting loose now? Because one time I took you with me to pick up a dime bag, and you had a panic attack in the car and almost threw up.”

“No.” He scoffs, turning off the car. “But you’re really in for a wild ride.”

I reach for the door.

“Don’t insult me.” Fitz hops out of the car and walks over to my side. Opening the door, he offers me a hand.

I take it even though I do so under duress of the gesture’s wholesomeness. “You don’t have to do that. No one is around.”

Fitz drops my hand but drapes his arm around my shoulder. The weight and warmth of his arm is startling, but I don’t twist away.

“What do you mean? You’re here.”

For a second, I want to ask him what he means by that. Because, in one way, I get what he’s saying. But when it comes to me—to us—it doesn’t quite make sense. After all, we know the truth.

“What do you⁠—”

“Besides.” Fitz dips closer to me. “We’re always being watched. I’m sure they report everything to your mother.”

I don’t have to turn and look over my shoulder to know Agent Samuels is there.

“Touché,” I say, wrapping my arm around his waist.

* * *

Fitz’s idea of letting loose is kind of exactly what I expected and a happy surprise all in one.

The time between Honey’s death and when I was taken to Horizons is a bit blurry. There are a few reasons for that—I didn’t exactly prioritize quality sleep over things like stealing booze and weed. But there are a few memories I hang onto that stand out in that montage of my rebellious stage. One of them is the first—and only—time I convinced Fitz to cut a full day of school with me.