An amused smile rippled across Emerson’s lips. “Hey—are you still nervous about getting caught?”
“Caught what?” Mal breathed.
“Selling illegal zines, duh,” Emerson said.
“Oh, uh.” Right. That was easier than what Mal was actually nervous about. “Yeah. You know, rules.”
“Rules, schmules.” Emerson flicked her wrist in an impliedwhatever. “Plus, rules can onlyreallybe broken if they’re fair, and this one isn’t.” Emerson leaned across Mal, rattling the lock on their locker. Her hair cascaded across Mal’s shoulder, sending a rush of tingles—and the sweet scent of vanilla sugar—through Mal’s senses. “Come on, we’re kicking so much ass that I need a restock!”
Mal shook themself. “Okay,” they said, and opened their locker.
Restocking was much less thrilling when they met Parker at their locker after fifth period to hand off an extra stack of zines to her too. Then, as they ducked into their next class, James pressed a handful of bills into Mal’s hand covertly, like they were in some spy thriller. Before the final class of the day, even Stella wanted in, taking the last three copies Mal had in their backpack to sell before school let out.
By the time the day was over, Mal made their way with Maddie to meet everyone at the same spot outside the gate as this morning. Stella was the last to arrive.
“There,” she said, handing Mal six neat one-dollar bills. “I sold out.”
“Yeah,” said Nylan, “and so did I!”
“Me too,” James said.
Kodi and Parker both nodded in agreement.
“Holy shit,” said Emerson, grabbing Mal’s arm.
“We… sold out?” Mal said stiffly.
“We sold out!” echoed Parker.
“I can’t believe it,” said Stella.
“Well, I can,” said Kodi. “We kind of ate with this one.”
“Yeah we did!” Nylan gave Kodi a high five.
“We should tally up the funds,” Mal said.
“We shouldcelebrate!” James said.
“I have to work,” Emerson whined, “but also yes. Party at the Haus? I’ll buy a round of pastries for us all.”
They all agreed in turn, and Mal smiled. “Okay, I’m in. It’s going to take a while to count all this change anyway.”
“Yeah, pleasure first,” Emerson agreed. “Business a distant second.”
Mal shook their head. Out of the corner of their eye, they glimpsed Maddie standing a few steps away, quiet and contemplative just as she’d been that morning.
“I, uh—do you want to come too, Maddie?” they asked, turning to include her in their makeshift circle.
“Yeah,” said Nylan. “The more the merrier.”
“You can sit with me,” Stella volunteered.
“No, I’m okay,” Maddie said, catching Mal’s eye. “You guys go ahead.”
Mal raised an eyebrow at their sister. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, you’re super welcome,” Parker said.
