Eliza tiptoed towards us like she’d learned how to time an entrance from freaking Mission: Impossible.

“What’s that?” she mused, pointing at what was no doubt her handiwork. Lime juice dripped onto the floor, creating a sticky puddle smack in the middle of the senior hallway. “You’re teaching everyone to make limeade? Ew. Maguire, didn’t anyone ever tell you that show-and-tell is for third graders?”

“In that case, O’Connor, what’d you bring?” I tried to keep my eyes locked with hers, rather than check out her appearance. Because if I had checked her out, I’d have noticed her wearing a skirt that perfectly traced the curves of her hips, rather than her usual jeans. I’d have to wonder what the occasion was. I’d have to wonder if it was me.

“To be honest,” I said, “I expected better.”

“Dare I ask to what you’re referencing?”

“This prank’s been done before. Three years ago, when Carter and I filled Jenny Martin’s locker with crickets.”

“I dunno,” she said, “I think it’d be pretty crazy to pick out eighteen of the juiciest limes available, slice them all into thirds, and then forgo precious sleep to get up early and stuff them in some rando’s locker that happens to have Carter’s birthday as its combination.” She wiped imaginary dust off my shoulder. “I’d never have time for that. This is some serious dedication.”

Yes, my combination was indeed Carter’s birthday. A bro never forgets another bro’s special day—that was my way of remembering it. Which, given how long it took me to open my locker this morning, wasn’t going well.

Robert watched the scene in front of us, looking more dumbfounded than Austin had when he’d realized cupboards are called cupboards because they’re literally boards you put your cups on.

“How’d you know there were eighteen limes?”

“Same way your mom knew it was your dad’s kid growing inside of her.” She hiked up the backpack on her shoulder. “Lucky guess.”

She shrugged, turned, and walked away.

Our fellow students gingerly passed by, avoiding the sticky juice dripping onto the floor. I emptied my locker, not sure how to even begin cleaning this up. The lime aroma was overwhelmingly sour, yet sweet at the same time.

“Why is every girl on the entire planet and most likely the whole universe into you? I swear they are programmed to gravitate towards you,” said Robert. “It’s like you’re the Earth and they’re the moon; they revolve around you all the time. Except you’d actually be Jupiter because you have way more than one moon.”

I wiped my fingers on the locker next to mine and closed the door. The mess was a problem for future-Nick. Not to be dealt with right now.

“Eliza likes Daley, bro,” I said. “Try to keep up.” Robert trudged next to me as we avoided the kids staring at us and headed towards our first-period class, AP history.

“I am caught up,” he said, “And she doesn’t. She dumped him after the bonfire. I thought Carter would have told you?”