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“I did,” I groan. “She says she just wants to be friends.”

“You don’t need a friend like her.” He takes his textbook from his backpack and scans the room. “Kind of weird to be back.”

“Yeah. I thought so too.” I glance at my phone and then at my textbook. I’ve seen Turner four times today, but I haven’t seen Isla once. Maybe Ash has. “Have you seen Isla? I wanted to make sure no one’s messing with her, that Dixon and Murphy kept their word.”

“Um, n-no. I haven’t,” Ash mumbles, the tips of his ears reddening. “I don’t think she’s⁠—”

“Hello, class.” Mr. Coleman steps into the classroom, closing the door behind him.

Ash leans over. “Mom is picking me up, by the way. But thanks for the offer.”

“Okay.” I nod and open my textbook.

I do my best to pay attention, but while Mr. Coleman lectures, one question keeps bugging me: where is Isla?

Laughter echoes off the walls as I step into the house. I take off my shoes and head into the living room, where Meg sits on the couch, controller in hand, eyes glued to the screen. I smile. She’s completely focused on playing Cuphead, the tip of her tongue poking out of her mouth and everything.

“Are you going to help me or not?”

Confused about who she’s talking to, I pad into the room. Only then do I notice Ian. He’s on the floor, a throw pillow under his head, a second controller in his hands.

“I’m doing my best. Why are we even playing this game?”

Meg rolls her eyes. “Because it’s been three months, and we’re still stuck.”

“That’s because you two suck,” I say.

Meg’s controller goes flying, and she lets out a shriek.

I catch it and straighten my back, grinning. My reflexes are still good, and it’s fucking fantastic.

My sister jumps off the couch and swivels, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “Michael!”

“Yeah, dude, not cool,” Ian mutters.

Game Over flashes on the screen, and I wince.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” I hold out the controller.

Meg takes it; with her eyes still on me, she puts it down. Then, she turns to Ian. “Do you want something to drink?”

“Apple juice.”

“Okay.” She wanders into the kitchen, leaving Ian and me alone.

Now that it’s just the two of us, I work up the nerve to ask him about Isla.

I clear my throat. “How was your winter break?”

“Awesome.” He sits up and drops the controller to the rug. “We had a great time in Boston.”

Yeah, I heard Mom telling Dad the Walker family was in Boston for break.

“Cool.” I tip my head to my shoulder. “Do you know why your sister skipped school today?”

Ian frowns, his fuller bottom lip protruding. If he were bigger and had tattoos, he’d look exactly like his dad. “Um, she didn’t.”

I clutch the back of the couch and lean forward. “But I didn’t see her at school.”