By the time the final bell rings, I don’t get a chance to say anything—not that I’d probably be able to at the moment. Not when I can’t be sure I won’t just puke my lunch up instead. My skin feels cold in a way I don’t like, and for a second, I do wonder if maybe I’m actually coming down with something. Maybe he gave me whatever bug he’s clearly still feeling the effects from.

Because that has to be it. Right? He’s just sick. Nothing’s changed.

My throat swells, knowing it for the lie it is.

I don’t go to my locker today on the off-chance Waylon decides to find a way home rather than hang out with me and wait for his dad. I need my math textbook for homework, but I’m just going to have to take the zero tomorrow.

Some things are more important.

Mrs. Fillmore yells after me again that afternoon when I sprint off toward the doors. This time, I make sure she can’t catch me. She can yell at me about it tomorrow.

Because nothing else matters right now but Waylon, and figuring out what’s wrong so I can make it right.

I pay no one any notice as I all but shove my way through the crowd of students outside as they wait to get on the bus. Somewhere nearby, I hear Mason calling out to me, but all I can manage is a wave in his general direction as I look around wildly. My eyes tuned solely to finding that familiar messy, dark head of hair.

My heart threatens to burst out of my chest with each passing second I don’t see him. I don’t know why it feels so utterly important that I find Waylon before he can leave today, but I just know that if I don’t, I might never figure out what’s wrong. I might never be able to fix whatever it is he thinks I did to make him give me the cold shoulder suddenly.

Because I know, I just know, whatever this is has to do with me. With what happened.

You shouldn’t have kissed him, a voice whispers in my head.

I scowl to myself. He kissed me first.

He. Kissed. Me. First.

Fear and anger and helplessness rage within me, growing stronger and stronger by the second. I’m not sure why I’m angry, only that I am. He can’t just...avoid me like this. Cast me out. Not now. Not after everything. I won’t let him.

I won’t let him.

Finally, just when I think it’s already too late, I see him. Much like last week, I catch him at the last second as he ducks around the side of the school. Following the same path he did the other day.