“I’m just going to go ahead and share this video with the honor board,” Ellory says, her thumbs moving fast across the screen. “See what they say about his college acceptances.”

Nevaeh high-fives her.

“Ms. Warren wants to talk to you,” Ellory says to me. “About what the dean said to you.” She hesitates, then touches my arm. “I’m sorry.”

“She wants to talk to me?” I say. “I didn’t expect anyone to care.”

“Just wait,” Ellory says. “I’m pretty sure he’s going to get into a fuckton of trouble.”

“Good,” I say.

“I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything,” she says as she returns inside.

“I hate waiting,” Taylor says. “It’s all been waiting. I want now.”

Jack kisses me sweetly, tells me he’ll help any way he can, and I close my eyes when he hugs me.

When we break apart, he leaves for the studio, and Taylor, Katherine, Nevaeh, and I head back to the dorms to change, get our books, and pretend the day is normal and that I didn’t just peel open my chest and give the whole room a good look at my heart.

“I don’t think I’ve ever said so many words in a row like that,” I say. Why am I still so wobbly? “Do you think they heard us? What’s going to happen to us?” Asking that out loud is scary.

“Here’s what I know,” Nevaeh says, taking my hand. “We do have genius, marketable skills. And there is no way they’re going to steal our futures from us.”

I start to smile. But I’m still scared. I’m still shaken. I still want to believe that there’s something like justice. I don’t want them to lose the spots they worked so hard for. It’s impossible to even consider.

“We’ll do something wonderful,” Katherine says. “You know that.”

“I’m not scared,” Nevaeh says to me. “And I still have zero regrets.”

Katherine seizes me in a hug.

“I still hate waiting,” Taylor says.

I don’t know if I can be as brave as Katherine and Nevaeh are, but the relief is real, all of us here together at the end of this ridiculous dare we took. We said yes, let’s do this. It’ll be the best adventure ever.

“I’m going to wear this costume to all my classes today,” I announce. “Because, you know, I can’t pretend this is a normal day. There’s nothing normal about it.”

“Not a thing to lose,” Katherine says.

There’s nothing like putting your money where your mouth is.

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