Our table is unusually quiet, the empty sixth chair a stark reminder of why we are silent. Trevor and I keep looking at each other, but we don’t say anything.
Last night, William told me he trusted Trevor with the truth, and I was beyond shocked. Especially when he said that Trevor would be my bodyguard. But it’s better than the vampire messing with my friends’ minds.
Except that now, Zach is the only one who doesn’t know the truth.
“Everything ready for tomorrow?” asks Ms. Floreville, startling me.
I’m pretty sure we’ve all forgotten about Time Period Day.
“We’re ready,” says Tiffany. Once our teacher walks away, she looks at me. “Aren’t you going to tell the school about my psychotic break?”
Instead, I look at Zach. “Tiffany is telling the truth. William is a vampire.”
Zach stares back at me, expression unchanged. “I know.”
Tiffany looks relieved, and when I meet Trevor’s gaze, he nods at me slightly. He must have confirmed it to Zach.
“What weapon did William give you?” I ask Trevor.
“Weapon?” echoes Salma, frowning at him.
“Don’t worry about it,” says Trevor, and I notice how he brings his bag closer.
“You have it with you?”I ask in shock.
“We don’t know when they could show up.”
“Who?” asks Tiffany, looking between us.
“The vampires are coming for William,” I say in a low voice. “He’s gone to head them off and will agree to whatever they want in exchange for our safety. Just in case, he left Trevor a weapon for our protection.”
Tiffany and Zach look stupefied. “Why would he trustyou?” Tiffany asks Trevor.
“Because he knows I won’t hesitate.”
“Look, there’s something you need to know, too,” Zach says to me. “It’s about our newsletter for tomorrow.”
“Zach, don’t,” warns Tiffany.
“We could all be about to die,” Zach says to her, “so our best chance is to work together. No more secrets.”
“I think Zach is right,” says Salma, and I realize I haven’t really looked at her since yesterday, when she told me she was dying.
And that I’m letting it happen.
Doesn’t matter. I don’t care how Sal feels about me—when we get home, I’m talking to Ma, and we’re going to figure out a plan. I won’t let my best friend give up on herself.
“She told you, didn’t she?” asks Tiffany, looking between Salma and me.
“Who told what?” asks Trevor.
“None of your business,” snaps Salma, and she turns to Zach. “What about the newsletter?”
It’s only now that it hits me why Salma has been so cold with Trevor since break. It’s not that she doesn’t like him. It’s that she doesn’t have the luxury of time. She’s trying to make things easier in her own way.
“We didn’t base it on the history we learned in class,” says Zach, “but on the timeline on the LUB’s ceiling.”
“You outed the vampires?”I ask in whispered outrage.
