I’m also beyond furious about this protest. I’m approaching the cluster of students carrying signs when I see another girl walking up to join them. A girl with shiny blond hair and a familiar face. It’s Madison Huxley. She’s proudly bearing a banner like the others. Written in large block letters are the words SAY NO TO CLONES. She takes her place among the other students as the decibel of the chant rises.

I charge toward her.

“Emma…” Ollie warns, hurrying to my side. “Are you sure you wanna provoke her? I hear she bites. And she could be rabid.”

But I don’t stop. I’m going to tear that sign out of Madison’s perfectly manicured fingers. I reach her in less than two seconds, grabbing the sign and crumpling it before she can stop me.

“What the hell are you doing?” Madison reacts, outraged.

“I could ask you the same question. You graduated. You don’t even go here anymore. I’ve seen you all over the feeds. Stumping for your mom on the campaign trail.”

“Of course I’m supporting her,” Madison snaps. “My mother’s a presidential candidate. If she wins, I’ll be the first person in history to have both their parents elected to the White House.” Her eyes narrow as she considers me with disdain. “Are you sure you want to continue this little tirade? Because the powerful people in my circle could made your life extremely miserable if I wanted them to.”

“Emma, let’s go.” Ollie nudges me. “She’s not worth it.”

Madison’s eyeing Ollie now, giving him the once-over. “Welcome back, Oliver,” she purrs. “I wondered at the end of last year if you’d be too behind to come back as a senior. Maybe you’ll have to repeat eleventh grade?”

I feel myself growing hot. How dare she? “He completed almost all his missed coursework over the summer—”

But Madison doesn’t let me finish. “I see Emma’s loyalty to you hasn’t wavered. Or yours to her. Though I wouldn’t blame you if you felt differently about things. You know—since Levi.”

Her words sting, and I avoid meeting Ollie’s eyes. Madison can be cruel; I know this. But this is almost too painful to bear. I’m grasping for an appropriate comeback, but before I can respond, a gravelly voice interrupts us.

“Students, continue on to your dorms!” I see Principal Fleischer standing in the distance, speaking into a megaphone, trying to wrestle control of the situation. “Make a path. Let the cars through. I repeat, continue on to your dorms!”