I pushed myself off the bed, flicked open the blinds. ‘That’s Heath’s car.’ What was he doing here? Either way, the timing was perfect: I had to talk to him. I had to tell him that June’s folder was gone – maybe he’d know. He’d have to know. If there was anyone on the planet June actually talked to, it was him. ‘Leo, I gotta go.’

‘No! Shit, Sydney, wait, I think –’ But the connection was bad and Leo was pixelly and I couldn’t understand him anyway so I hung up and rushed downstairs.

Don’t go anywhere, baby. Stay here.

I took the stairs two at a time, then left through the front door and shut it behind me.

It was raining that night, though it didn’t register at first; the blur in my vision and the chill shooting down my spine seemed more internal than external. Leaves chattered in the wind and broke into fits of applause whenever a gust hurtled past. Drops plopped against the concrete and the roof and my brain, quick enough to be indistinguishable from one another, fuzzy and constant, like TV static.

Heath.

I had to squint to get a good view of him through the headlights and the rain and even then, it was barely more than a silhouette. He stood with the driver’s side door open, him behind it with his hands on the top, as if it was a shield. ‘Sydney! How are you? Sorry to show up so late, but I didn’t want this to drag on any longer. I think we need to talk. The three of us.’

My stomach dropped.

He knew. He knew how I felt. June must have told him what happened at the dance. ‘The three of us? Is June here?’

He nodded towards the car. ‘She’s with me.’

‘I mean, we can just talk here, if –’

He shook his head. ‘No can do. I’ve been thinking about this for a while – don’t worry, I’m not mad, but I’ve got a whole evening set up for us at mine. Drinks, et cetera. And I’d hate to disturb your mom.’

‘She’s at the … police station.’

Heath blinked. ‘Did something happen? Oh, tell us on the way. This weather’s absolutely horrible. Come on. Why don’t you sit in front?’ He got back inside before I could answer.

My gut flipped and I wasn’t sure why.

But June was in there. And I needed to talk to her. I needed answers.

So I moved forward, rain splattering into my eyes, pulled the handle of the passenger door and lowered myself into the seat.

June was there. In the back seat. She wouldn’t even look at me, just faced forward with her shoulders hunched and her eyes closed. ‘Why did you do that?’ she asked so quietly that I wasn’t even sure she had asked at all.