I cut him off, my heart thumping hard. “I don’t get why you’re doing this,” I said. “Why are you picking on Daniel?”
“Manik, let’s do some recon,” Alex chirped. “Check and see if there’s any activity outside.” He grabbed the yearbook editor’s shirtsleeve and dragged him over to a window.
Tag dropped his voice. “I’m notpickingon Daniel,” he said. “I’m pulling a prank that happens to heavily involve the school president. If Alex had won the election, we would still be standing here right now.” He shook his head. “In fact, I wish it were Alex. It would be a lot funnier—he would have an open breakdown while I’m sure Rivera’s gonna put up a front that everything’s fine.”
“But everyone helping has an issue with Daniel,” I whispered.
Tag raised an exaggerated eyebrow. “You have an issue with Daniel?”
The back of my neck heated.Yes, I thought.I don’t want to go to prom with him.
“No, of course not,” I stammered. “I meant the others do. You only need me for the keys.”
“Lily, you don’t actually believe that, do you? That you’re just the key holder?”
I didn’t respond.
“Alex and I have watched many a YouTube video on how to pick locks. Leda’s ID makes things infinitely easier, but we could’ve managed without it.” He reached out as if to touch me but ended up running a hand through his hair. “I asked you because…”
“We should get going,” I said when he trailed off. From the sound of his voice, I knew he had an answer, but I also knew it wouldn’t be what I so dreamed of hearing.
I asked you because I trust you.
I asked you because I miss you.
I asked you because I love you.
Maybe Tag trusted me, but there was no way he missed or loved me anymore. He’d moved on after that day in his room last spring. “I think it’s for the best,” I’d told him as he sat on his bed, head in his hands. “Because I’m really tired, Tag. I’m reallytired of playing all these games and tuning out the noise. I love you so much, but I can’t do this anymore.”
“I just don’t get what you’re talking about,” he eventually said, green eyes glassy. “What games? What noise? Am I doing something wrong? Hops, please tell me…”
But I didn’t tell him. If he didn’t realize the gold rush of attention he got from girls and how hard it was for me to handle, it meant he was enjoying it. Breaking up, then, really was for the best.
“I don’t know where the Jester’s clues lead,” I said now, throat thickening, “but I imagine we’re about to embark on a campus tour?”
“Yeah,” he murmured, giving me a half-hearted smile right when Alex and Manik returned. Zoe also reappeared, but without Maya. She was still in the bathroom.
“Coast is clear, Captain,” Alex reported, then turned to Zoe. “Can the last troop be rallied?”
Zoe shook her head. “I don’t think so,” she said. “She’s, um, made camp in there.” She sighed. “And I’m sorry, but I’m going to stay with her. I don’t want her sneaking back to her room alone later. Maybe I can meet up with you after?”
Everyone looked at Tag. I caught his jaw just barely twitch, but other than that, he appeared unfazed. “No worries,” he said. “Tell her I hope she feels better.”
Alex, Manik, and I echoed him.
Zoe nodded.
“And please ask her to text me,” Tag added. “Or have you text me.”
“Text you what?”
“Four digits,” Tag said, then thanked her for the heavy lifting. They exchanged a fist bump, and Zoe affectionately tugged my ponytail before hauling ass back to the restrooms.
No one else moved.
“Is anyone else out?” Tag asked after a beat. “Feel free to speak now.”
My hands shook a little, knowing he was talking to me. I thought for a moment. Was it unfair that Daniel was going to take the brunt of this bank job? No. It wasunfortunate, but not unfair. The Almanacs were the president’s responsibility, and Daniel just so happened to be the president.
