Leigh Ann stood in the middle of the kitchen, head swinging back and forth between her friends. ‘Listen, I’m sorry, okay. I just think it’s better if we…’

Whatever she said after that was drowned out by Sophie wrenching open the dishwasher and slamming anything plastic down as hard as she could.

The corners of Leigh Ann’s mouth turned down. ‘I guess that’s my cue to leave.’

‘What’s Sophie doing? And who’s the beefsteak dude that just squealed away from the house?’ Isaac’s voice startled Holly, and she shrieked, her hand raised to her heart as she tried to calm the galloping muscle.

‘I didn’t hear you come in.’ Holly watched Isaac’s gaze switch from Leigh Ann to Sophie who’d swung around, a spatula raised in the air like a weapon she was about to wield.

Leigh Ann forced a smile to her face. ‘Hey, Isaac. Are you excited for your eighth-grade promotion tomorrow?’

He shrugged. ‘Not going. It would’ve been stupid and boring anyway.’

Holly was taken aback not so much by his words but by the heat in them when he addressed Leigh Ann. But if her friend noticed, she didn’t let on.

Leigh Ann turned towards Sophie and gave her a half-smile. ‘I’ll talk to you later, okay. And I’m sorry. Again.’ Then she turned to Isaac. ‘It’s nice to see you. You’re looking good.’

‘Yeah, thanks.’ Isaac’s response was lukewarm, at best.

As soon as the front door clicked, Holly tilted her head to the side. ‘Why the attitude toward Leigh Ann?’

For a minute, Isaac didn’t answer. Instead he grabbed an apple out of the bowl, chomped into it, and around a mouthful of food, mumbled, ‘I don’t know. I’ve just never liked her. Why are you acting surprised? It’s not like you didn’t already know that.’

‘Yeah, but you’ve never been quite so rude before, either.’

Isaac shrugged. ‘I don’t know. She just bugs.’

At this, Sophie joined the conversation. ‘You’re not wrong, bro. I’m right there with you, Zic.’ She used the nickname she’d given him ages ago, mostly to annoy him, but over the years, it had kind of stuck.

‘You guys need help putting up flyers today?’

With her foot, Sophie closed the dishwasher, and then moved over to Isaac, draping an arm around his shoulder. ‘We would, but um, quick question, why are you home at noon, huh?’

Holly hadn’t even thought of that, and she watched her brother’s face pinken as he turned to her. ‘Don’t tell Mom or Dad, okay? Our teachers told us they’re not even taking attendance, so if we’re not there, no one will know. All we’re doing is watching lame movies, helping them clean their rooms, or returning textbooks to the library. I thought my time was better spent helping you guys.’

‘You didn’t even know we were here,’ Holly countered.

‘Please, sis.’

She relented because he was right; the last few days of school were nothing more than teachers babysitting bored teenagers. Plus, now that Leigh Ann had abandoned ship, she and Sophie really could use the help. ‘Go grab the flyers; they’re on the coffee table. But just so you know, if you get busted, I’m not lying for you.’