Dad straightened up and drummed his hands on his thighs. “But when you tried out for the musical, I thought, Hey, look at her. She’s going for something. And then all of a sudden you’re going to a school dance, and you have friends…” He paused. “I didn’t mean to imply that I was shocked you have friends. Of course you have friends.” He laughed awkwardly.

I’d planned to keep a neutral expression through this whole talk, but my eyes rolled of their own volition. I didn’t know how Dad could look so sophisticated and together as he played the piano at gigs and be so dorky in real life.

“What I’m trying to say is, I don’t know what the answer is. I don’t know how you recover from something like this. But I do know it won’t happen in a straight, steady line. And that’s all right. Just don’t give up on all the progress you’ve made because of a setback. You’ve got such a great heart, kid. Remember that when things get hard.”

I hadn’t thought it was possible to feel any worse, but it was. My heart wasn’t great, it was garbage. And I’d tricked my dad into believing I was getting better the same way I’d tricked myself.

I sat up, needing to be anywhere but here. So I left my room, grabbed my coat and bag, and got back in the car. After driving around for a while, I found myself at Waffle Country. It was what I needed right now.

Strawberry Nutella waffles and my trig homework finally lulled my brain into a sluggish haze. My body seemed to realize that I’d hardly gotten any sleep the last two nights, and before I knew it, I was using my textbook as a pillow.

“What are you doing here?”

I jerked up. Diya was standing over me, her backpack dangling from one shoulder. She was the last person I wanted to see. And considering all the people I was trying to avoid, that was saying something.

“Hello,” she said, waving her hand in front of my face annoyingly.

“I’m eating waffles, what does it look like I’m doing,” I snapped. Then I glanced at the clock—4:15. Rehearsal should have been in full swing. “Why are you here?”

Diya hesitated for a second. Then she slid into the seat across from me and took off her pea coat. I wanted to ask her what she thought she was doing, but I didn’t have the energy.