“Seriously?” Reagan asked, and I could hear the surprise—and the hurt—in their voice. “That’s all you’re going to say?”
“For the moment,” I said over my shoulder. “To be continued!”
Behind me, I heard Reagan scoff, since they didn’t realize just how true this was.
I picked up my pace, keeping my focus on the doors that would let me start this over. I just hadn’t prepared enough, that was all. But I wouldn’t make that mistake again.
Cass?” Ms. Mulaney asked, her expression concerned. “You okay all by yourself? Where’s Bryony?”
“She went to ride the real roller coasters.” I glanced at my watch. “She’s probably getting in line for Guardians right now, though she’s going to move to the Incredicoaster when that line is too long.”
Mrs. Mulaney blinked at me. “Oh. Well, that’s good. If you need anything, I’ll be in the chaperone lounge. It’s that direction….” As before, she pointed toward Pixar Pier, sending her tote bag crashing to the ground and spilling out its contents.
“I’ll help,” I said eagerly, a little louder than I meant to. I saw Amy glance over at me from where she was standing with ?Carlos. I grabbed for a loose manuscript page and a pen that had rolled a few feet away. I folded the paper quickly, stuck it in my bag,? and tucked the pen in my dress pocket.
I looked up to see Amy standing nearby, staring at me. “What’s going on?” she asked, looking baffled. “And why did you just take Ms. Mulaney’s paper?”
“Why is this your business?” Carlos asked her.
Amy shot him an irritated look. “I’m just asking questions, Carlos. Am I not allowed to do that?” Then she turned back to me, her expression expectant.
“I didn’t take her paper,” I said, even though I knew that, as far as defenses go, this one left something to be desired.
“What paper?” Ms. Mulaney asked.
“The one in Cass’s bag,” Amy said, pointing at it.
I looked down at it? and saw the triangle of the top sticking out of my bag, as clear as anything. “Right,” I said, pushing myself up to standing. “If you’ll excuse me…”
If you need anything, I’ll be in the chaperone lounge. It’s that direction….” Just like I’d been planning, Ms. Mulaney pointed, and her tote bag fell to the ground, its contents spilling out.
“I’ll help you,” I said, making sure to keep my voice quiet this time.
I bent down to the ground, pretending to help, but keeping my eyes on Amy, doing my best to avoid attracting her attention. When I was sure she wasn’t looking at me, I grabbed a stray piece of paper, ?folded it quickly, and pocketed it along with a pen. Then I straightened up and handed Ms. Mulaney the items I’d picked up.
“Thank you,” she said, pulling her bag over her shoulder. She looked at me and raised an eyebrow. “You all right?”
“Uh-huh,” I said. I stayed in place, knowing that any minute her phone would ring, and it would be the agent on the other line. Without meaning to, I flashed to the memory of her on the phone not too long from now, her voice cracked and desperate. “Just—maybe…”
Before I could say anything else, her phone rang. She fished it out of her bag, and I saw her eyes widen. “I have to take this.”
“Good luck,” I said, and walked away before I would have to see her expression change. But I couldn’t do anything about Ms. Mulaney’s crushed dreams—I had to try to save Freddie’s.
I found a bench, tucked under a tree, and sat down to try to gather my thoughts. I had to figure this out. I needed to get him to believe me, to get us back to where we’d been three loops ago—and hopefully also stop the Eton Mess disaster from happening and ruining his chances of a future music career.
I pulled out my pilfered paper and pen and stared down at the blank page for just a moment, trying to recall everything that Freddie had said. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to keep this piece of paper for more than one loop. If this all started again, it would be back in Ms. Mulaney’s bag like I’d never written on it. But I was hoping that maybe the act of writing it would help cement it in my brain.Freddie, I wrote across the top of the paper, and underlined this twice. Then I took a breath and started to write.
-Brother named Jack
-From Croydon
-Loves Excalibur/poster above bed/Geraldine Bewley school project
-Weird vegetable allergy
-Rocky road ice cream/Sweet Emporium
-Manager coming tonight
