Izzy doesn’t even blink. “Obviously.”
Owen hums as if considering it. “Yeah… I mean, it’d be pretty easy to rig something like this.”
I narrow my eyes. “You seem really interested in how that’d work.”
He shrugs, all casual. “Just thinking out loud.”
No one buys that for a second, but before I can press him, he changes the subject, launching into a story about seeing Lisa making out with a college guy at the mall last weekend. Mia’s instantly distracted, demanding details, and just like that, the conversation shifts. But I don’t stop watching Owen.
Because now I have to wonder. Who is he actually trying to help?
That thought lingers in my mind as the week barrels forward. By Friday, we’re one day from Homecoming, and Izzy is officially running on rage and caffeine. I’ve wanted to ask her to be my date all week, but I didn’t want to come off as pushy. So we decided as a group to go together. Me, Izzy, Nolan, and Mia. I’m renting the limo, and everyone is meeting at Izzy’s house atseven p.m. Mia will already be there, and Nolan will be at mine. Since we live next door to each other, it’ll be easy.
Izzy’s dad wants some pictures of the four of us before the dance. Since Izzy lost her mom a few years ago, it’s the least we can do for them. Give them happy memories to help replace the painful ones.
And then the dress incident happens.
I find out when Nolan yanks me out of my last class, dragging me toward the girls’ locker room. “Dude, emergency.”
“What kind of emergency?”
“TheHomecoming dresskind.”
I have no idea what that means, but when I push inside, I find Mia holding a shredded, completely destroyed dress, while Izzy stands there, arms crossed, looking one step away from committing arson.
“Question. Why is your dress in the girls’ locker room?” I’m genuinely curious why it isn’t safe at her house.
Izzy rolls her eyes. “Because I’m supposed to have it altered tonight, and this was the only place I could keep it so it wouldn’t wrinkle.”
“Okay.” I run a hand through my hair, blowing out an exasperated breath. “What the hell happened?”
Mia shakes the fabric. “Someone slashed her dress, Xavier. Slashed. As in, took scissors and went to town on it.”
Nolan exhales. “This is some next-level evil.”
I look at Izzy. “Do we know who did it?”
Izzy’s lips press together. “No proof. Just highly educated guesses.”
Mia scoffs. “Oh, please. Tara’s had it out for you since birth. This has her manicured claws all over it.”
I clench my jaw. This isn’t some petty high school bullshit anymore. This is deliberate. I don’t like the way Izzy’s standing there, too quiet, too still, like she’s this close to breaking.
I step closer. “We’ll fix it.”
Her jaw tics. “Not much to fix.”
“You’re right,” I say. “So we get even.”
For the first time all day, Izzy’s lips twitch. “You have a plan?”
“Oh, Ialwayshave a plan. And trust me, they won’t see it coming.”
Mia perks up. “Are we committing crimes?”
Nolan sighs. “God, please no.”
Izzy finally smirks, but her eyes are still stormy. “I don’t need revenge.”
