Everyone claps politely.
“I feel like I’m back at school,” I whisper to Lydia.
“Right?” She gestures at her tits. “I want to put a coat on before I get a written warning.”
Principal Aster clears her throat. “This is a time for fun, so I’ll be brief?—”
There’s a much louder round of applause, and I feel slightly bad. Not bad enough to pay attention, though. As Principal Aster drones about the school’s ‘proud history,’ I do what I always did atassemblies and think over a song I’ve had humming in my head lately, my fingers ghosting over notes only I can hear. The speech ends, and I smile as I clap because it’s nice to know some things don’t change.
“Baby?” Jake’s warm hand finds the small of my back. “You good?”
“Yup,” I lie. “Are you about to go up to do the rugby thing?”
“Soon. After they do the academic scholarship stuff.”
“Nice of them to at least pretend they care about learning more than rugby,” I croak. “You remember Lydia and Rachel? This is Rachel’s partner, Morgan.”
“I do,” Jake says, smiling at them. “Nice to meet you, Morgan. Sorry, I can’t stay and chat, ladies. I’ve gotta go do an award thing to do.”
“No problem,” Rachel breathes, both she and Lydia beaming like he’s the dude who invented vibrators. They round on me as Jake leaves, and I raise my palms like one of Lydia’s ‘Stop’ Signs. “Don’t blame me. I didn’t wanna date a rugby guy. He’s the one who was gagging for it.”
They laugh, and I want to join them, but the thought of Jake’s presentation has turned my bladder to mush.
“I’m gonna pee,” I tell them. “Back soon?”
“Cool,” Lydia says, her eyes gleaming. “But I gotta know now. JGH, mad in bed?”
“Crackers,” I assure her, and her cackle follows me as I make a beeline for the bathroom.
I sit in the stall long after I’m done peeing, vaping as muffled applause leaks through the walls. Angelica Joyce accepts her award for academic excellence, then another presenter congratulates Ethan Frank for science stuff. I know I have to make a move before Jake takes the stage and I force myself to my feet. As I exit the stall, I slam straight into Jenny Wallis.
“Sorry,” I say automatically, every node in my head screeching.
“Adalasia,” she trills. “You decided to show your face, after all?”
Numbness coats my brain like Vaseline. I expected to run into Jenny at some point, but I’d prayedit wouldn’t be alone. “Apparently.”
“You shouldn’t have,” she says. “From what I hear, you’re in quite a bit of trouble.”
“Okay…”
“I mean it.” Her fake-smile fades. “Did you come here wanting trouble?”
I frown. Tilt my head from side to side. Try to make sense of what’s going on in my mind because I’m looking at my lifelong enemy, polished and perfect and clearly looking to have the fightI’vewanted for years, but I don’tfeelanything. Not anger. Not guilt. I used to go dream about going to war with Jenny again, but now it’s here, all I can think is:
I don’t give a fuck.
Whatever part of me used to ignite at any mention of Jenny has just… burned out.
“Weird,” I muse. “Bye, Jenny.”
I step around her, pounding the liquid soap button above the sinks.
She follows me, her heels clicking on the tiles. “Not feeling chatty?”
“Nope,” I say, coating my hands with pinkish suds.
“I don’t blame you. Everyone’s asking what we’ve been up to since school, and I heard your music career’s dead in the water.”
