Her friends had always made it seem like something like this would be a big deal. She’d watched enough Golden Rule videos to know that people would turn this into a Big Deal if they found out. If Melody was still his girlfriend, she’d definitely have something to say about it.

So why didn’t she feel weird? Embarrassed? Shy? Nervous? Alex seemed fine too. The hand that had been on her shoulder was now draped over her knee. Maybe things were fine because she was keeping her distance. Morning breath would make it weird. Definitely. She pressed a finger to the back of his hand—and noticed a gold bracelet on her wrist.

“That’s not a buzzer.” Alex sighed.

“Did you put this on me?”

He inspected it and said, “No.”

The bracelet had a thin chain connected to a gold bar with a bird engraved on it.

“Where did you get it?” He laid his tablet facedown next to him.

“I don’t know.” And then she did. “You know, I thought it was exciting the first time they gave me a present while I was sleeping. It’s actually really not?”

“Oh.” Alex gave her the longest of long-suffering looks. She held in her giggles, while he said, “I thought we’d have to do a makeup challenge or something for it.”

“Me too. Guess they changed their creepy minds. Can you take it off for me?”

He did and asked, “How’s your arm?”

“It hurts.” The dull pulsing hadn’t stopped since she noticed it. “But I don’t think I want to take those pills again. They make me feel … off. Like I can’t think. Too foggy. I need my brain.”

He sat up too, frowning. “I’ve been thinking.”

“Nope, don’t do that.”

“Maybe we should go home.”

“What? Why? You don’t want to win? It would make your family so happy.”

“Not all money is good money.” He rubbed his hand roughly up and down his face. “I remember every second of what happened. You fell in slow motion, and I swear I heard your bone crack when we hit the ground.”

“I’m sorry.”

And she was. Sorry that she wasn’t more careful. Sorry that she fell and that he had to try to catch her. Sorry that she hadn’t thought about how he felt. She hadn’t even considered he might not be okay.

Luna wanted to tell him that, to open her mouth and let everything in her heart pour out, but she knew if she tried, she’d mess it up. Everything would be diminished and lost in translation.

“I don’t want to be here. I want to go home and be safe. With you.” He sighed again, shoulders sagging.