He shook his head. “I’m a senior but I took the year off.”

“Oh,” she said, and I was grateful when she didn’t pry. We talked a little about the party Elise threw on the football field on Friday night, about how tedious some of the teachers were at school, about any summer plans we might have.

“I want to get back into swimming,” Jack said. “I’m so out of shape.”

“You look fine,” Elise said.

He smiled. “Thanks, but I’m probably slow as hell in the water right now. What about you guys, any plans?”

I shook my head. “My parents are probably going to make me study for the SATs. I’m already behind, according to my mom. Christian, my brother, started studying for it as a fetus, so.”

Jack laughed. “Wait, is your brother Christian Tsai?”

“Yep.” They were in the same grade, I realized. Even if Jack had taken the year off school, they would have been juniors together, and sophomores before that.

“I didn’t know he had a sister,” he said.

“No one does,” I said. “I would’ve been surprised if you said you had known.”

“Are you guys friends?” Elise was trying not to sound strained, but I could hear it in her voice. I looked at Jack, silently praying he didn’t know Christian.

“Not really?” he said like a question. “I think we were on the swim team together freshman year, but we don’t exactly know the same people.” He was clearly being polite, and I was relieved that they weren’t friends.

“It’s okay,” Elise said, grinning. “You can tell us what you really think of him. I mean, both of us think he’s kind of an asshole.” I elbowed her. “What? It’s the truth.”

“I don’t know him well enough,” Jack said, remaining neutral. “He seems kind of intense, I guess.” I liked that he didn’t just follow Elise’s lead, that he wasn’t tempted to shit-talk Christian just because she was.

As soon as Elise finished eating, she checked the time on her phone. “We have to go soon, Rem,” she said without looking up.

“What?” I asked. Jack looked surprised too.

“That thing tonight?” she asked, eyes meeting mine. “Remember?” It had all been part of her plan, I thought. Unbelievable.

“You said you were going to go without me, remember?” I shot her a look.

“Can we talk?” She took me by the wrist, pulling me out of the booth toward the bathroom before I could answer. I looked over my shoulder, trying to tell Jack sorry.

As soon as the door shut behind us, Elise checked the stalls quickly to make sure we were alone. “I really need you there tonight.”

“Why?” I demanded. I knew she didn’t. Maybe I’d been right to be worried when I didn’t want to tell her about Jack, but even then I couldn’t have imagined she’d do this. “Please don’t tell me it’s because you want me there to talk about the Justice League or whatever it is you’re calling it, because I honestly don’t even care about it, okay?” I regretted my words immediately.