“That’s true. And pushing updates on Moncha employees just because they signed a job contract years ago is not fair. What they’ve done is not fair.”

“And I have to trust Tobias,” I say, in a small voice.

“I know you do. That’s because you lurve him.”

“I do not!”

“You so do. Look, you only get that red if you’re in the proximity of Tobias Washington. Or thinking about him.”

“If that was the case, I’d permanently be red-faced,” I say. “He asked me to hang out yesterday.”

“He did? What did you say?”

“I…I don’t think I said anything!”

It takes a moment to sink in with Zora, but then she bursts into a fit of giggles. We finish off the rest of our sandwiches, and she links her arm in mine. “You’ll have to give him an answer another time. Don’t leave Cute Guy hanging. But don’t worry, I’ll be there tonight. And always.”

16

>>I’m at 3 percent battery.

Slick speaks from my pocket.

“I’ll plug you in as soon as we’re downstairs.”

>>It would be much faster for me to leash as normal.

“We’ll wait until we’re downstairs,” I say again, through gritted teeth. We’ve only just reached my building after school, but I’m not going up to the apartment. I’m heading down to my cave.

Once I get down to the basement, I search everywhere for Jinx. I’d hoped he would be down here already.

But it’s empty. I focus on tidying up a bit, creating space for my friends. It helps pass the time until the loud snap of a camera shutter breaks my concentration.

There’s a cackle of laughter that follows the camera noise, and I look up sharply. It’s only then that I realize how I must have looked: standing on the desk balancing a box of wire over my head, trying to put it on the top shelf, goggles on, hair tied back in the messiest bun ever and—worst of all—my tongue poking out from between my lips, which is a habit I have when I’m concentrating ultra hard.

And now there’s photo evidence of it. I groan. “Thanks a lot, River,” I say when I see his face.

“That’s one for the history books!” he laughs.

River isn’t the only one who’s arrived. I roll back in my chair and see Kai and Ashley behind him.

“I’m not going to lie, I never thought I’d be back to this place—cool as it is.” Sarcasm drips from his voice, and Kai crinkles his nose as he looks around my locker. I’ve learned to ignore his too-cool-for-school act, because I know that’s exactly what it is: an act. I give him an exaggerated eye roll as I approach the door, and he returns it with a big grin.