“I am,” I insist. “That’s the whole story. That’s how it happened.” That’s how it must have happened. That much I know.

She looks like she’s about to challenge me again, but instead she returns to an earlier question. “You said you were arguing. What about?”

The last prank. Or maybe it was really about all of them. Everything always leads back to those stupid, stupid pranks.

SATURDAY // SEPTEMBER 10 // DAY 1

5.

The night I met Elise was also the night of the very first prank. It was nearly a year ago, when I was a sophomore attending the homecoming dance with my then-boyfriend, Cameron. He’d graduated in May and was now a freshman at Georgia State.

That summer we ran wild, staying up late, going for joyrides in his Mustang. Before he left for college, we were inseparable. We were free and in love.

We watched movies in my basement, stole a bottle or three of wine from my parents’ collection. Snuck up to his room when his parents were gone. Kissed and promised each other we were forever.

But at the dance, what was supposed to be a blissful night was nothing but heartbreak.

The cafeteria had been cleared, tables and chairs stacked halfway to the ceiling to make room for the dance floor. “Have I told you how much I love you?” I said as we swayed to a slow song, my hand in his hair.

“Mmhmm,” he said, but there was no warmth in his voice.

Desperate, I kissed his neck. He pulled away.

“What’s wrong?” I said.

“It’s just hot in here.”

“Do you want some water?” I asked.

“No.”

“They have Gatorade.”

“No.”

“I think the PTA baked brownies this year,” I said, just trying to get him to say yes to something—anything.

“No.”

I paused. “Did I do something wrong?” Lost and confused, I felt like crying. All I wanted was to go back to the way I thought we were.

“No.” He sighed. “Let’s get some air.” The halls were crowded, the courtyard full. He pulled me by the wrist to the back of the school, out to the empty bus bay.

“Look, Remy, I like you, I do,” he began, even though he’d told me he loved me only weeks ago, the weight of his body over mine, the press of lips on lips, hips against hips. “But it’s different now. I graduated, and you don’t know what college is like, and I don’t care about all this high school crap.”

“You were the one who offered to take me to homecoming,” I said, feeling panic swell inside me. “We didn’t have to go.”

“It’s not about that. Look, I’m sorry.”

“Was it something I did? Something I said?” I asked, wrapping my arms around his neck, pinning him there. Maybe I could do something to salvage the night, to press rewind.

“No,” he said.

“Tell me what I did wrong. Tell me how I can fix it,” I begged.