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Chapter 35

Daniel’s car was waiting where I’d left it. I tore open the back door and dove inside. Fiona followed.

“Drive, drive!” I shouted as Fiona pulled the door shut.

“Did you commit some crime?” Marcus asked as the car literally peeled out of the parking lot.

“Sort of?” I said, my eyes shooting to Fiona. I was angry, angry she had done that big art stunt. I was already dealing with a lot, trying to keep my parents in the dark about Ryan. Did she really have to go and make a spectacle at an event she and I weren’t even supposed to be at?

“Oh, please, hanging a sign is not a crime,” Fiona said with a laugh. “It was really cool.”

“What was the point in doing it in the teen room?” I asked. “You should’ve done it in the adult one.”

“No, the teens will make that go viral, not the adults.”

I let out a huff of air.

“Don’t be mad at me,” she said, tugging on my arm.

I yanked my arm back.

“I honestly didn’t mean for the tree to fall. I didn’t think that guy would pull on the banner. If it had just hung there, it wouldn’t have been so dramatic.”

I looked away from her, out the window.

“I’ve been planning this since before you and Ryan became serious,” Fiona went on. “Before I knew you were going to the ball. I’m sorry. I thought you’d think the art was interesting. The message.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t.”

“She’s been taken by the dark side,” Fiona said in a low voice.

I sucked in a frustrated breath of air.

“I’m sorry,” Fiona added. “I didn’t mean to hurt you or Ryan.”

I didn’t trust myself to talk so I didn’t.

I pulled out my phone and sent a text to Ryan: I’m sorry Fiona did that. I’m sorry I couldn’t take off my mask in front of Mrs. O’Leary. I hope you didn’t get in trouble. I had a really good time tonight before … you know.

I stared at my phone the rest of the car ride. There was no response. I wondered what Ryan was more pissed about—Fiona’s stunt or me running away. I really wanted him to be angrier at Fiona, but I had a terrifying feeling that wasn’t the case.

“Should I come in? Or wait in the car?” Fiona asked when we got back to Mom’s work party.

“You better come in,” Marcus said. “You can be another excuse for why ‘getting food’ took us so long.”

We all got out of Daniel’s car. Marcus walked close to me on our way inside. “You okay?” he whispered.

“I don’t know.”

“Did he hurt you?”

“No, not at all. More like the opposite.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have taken you there,” he said.

“No.” I hooked my arm through his and laid my head on his shoulder. “Thanks for doing that. You’re a really good brother. I’m going to miss you.”

“Me too.”