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She watched the two of them walk off, heading for the yearbook table to grab their copies.
Tyler leaned against her locker, tugging on her shirt again. “Will you sign my yearbook, Ry?”
She batted her eyelashes. “Only if I can write something vulgar.”
He rolled his eyes, handing it to her. “Menace.”
“Your menace, may I remind you,” she teased, opening his book. “Wow, yours is practically filled already. Pays to be the Homecoming King.”
“Page three is also reserved, so don’t touch it.”
She turned to the third page, which was completely blank. She frowned. “Who for?”
“Me,” said a soft voice next to them.
Rory stood up straight as she glanced up at Zoe. She looked nervous, her smile tight. But she stood there proud, with her fingers laced with Helen’s, the two of them donning their New York school tees.
“Okay, that’s fine,” Rory replied to Zoe. “But only if you write something vulgar.”
“I don’t think Zoe knows how to be vulgar,” Helen bantered. “It will only be sweet messages, probably with flowers and hearts by her name.”
Zoe bumped her hip into Helen.
“As long as there are drawings then,” Rory said, sneaking a quick glance at Tyler. He was still smiling down at her, completely unfazed by all the students milling around, whispering to one another.
Zoe let go of Helen’s hand and gave Rory a hug. “I’m sorry, Rory. For all of it.”
She hugged her back. “Why are you sorry?”
“You should have been with him from the beginning,” Zoe said softly. “I feel like I really screwed up this year.”
Rory took a step back. “I had things to work out too, you know.”
Zoe just nodded, looking somber.
“Everything okay at home?” Tyler asked.
Zoe just shrugged. “My parents are pissed…but not because I came out. They’re really mad that I lied to them, that I chose not to trust them with such an important part of who I am.”
“And your dad?” Rory asked.
“He says I should have been honest about my anxiety with being in the public eye,” she admitted feebly. “Refusing to go to his reelection party hurt his feelings, and he wishes we could have discussed it. I’ve learned…a lot the past few days. About them, about myself…” She paused, her eyes drawn to Helen. Rory watched Helen squeeze Zoe’s hand.
“Have you spoken to Walker?” Tyler asked, his face pulled into a scowl.
Zoe shook her head. “I refuse to go near him.”
Helen tucked a strand of Zoe’s hair behind her ear in comfort.
“This whole thing made me realize that it’s never worth trying to be something you’re not just to appease someone else,” Zoe admitted. “Because if you’re not completely honest, then you’re not exactly caring for others in return. Or trusting them with being your truest self.”
Rory just nodded, her mind drifting to the year she’d had. When she finally allowed herself to be authentic, everything changed. With her mother. With her true feelings for Jay. With her decision about college. With her closest friendships. With the guy next to her who she was head-over-heels in love with.
“It’s certainly not the easiest thing to do, but it’s worth it,” she replied.
Tyler squeezed her hand, a silent reminder of that conversation after prom three weeks earlier, of the words he repeated to her like a prayer. I will always choose you.
* * *
