Mom
Child, you need to make a new friend. That is unacceptable.
Me
I did. Dot, remember? But now she’s always with Zayne.
Mom
Remind her you still exist, then.
Me
That’s embarrassing.
Mom
Either that, or I march to your school to have lunch with you myself. What’s more embarrassing now?
I groan.Why did I involve my mother again?
It takes me a moment to find Dot among all the other students in the cafeteria. I contemplate standing on one of the benches to give myself some height but shrink away from the idea as soon as it comes. That would draw way too much attention.
But then I see her at a table with her boyfriend, Zayne, and make my way over, tray in hand. As I walk, I think about how dumb it is that I’m choosing Dot to latch onto, considering she and Zayne got into Underwood Academy, the best acting school in Massachusetts, and will be transferring next year to spend the rest of high school and college there.
She won’t even be here for senior year. And then I’ll be alone again.
Despite being shy, I never thought this would happen to me. I’ve always been so tight with my friends. Me, Carlton, and the twins—Meredith and Mabel—have been inseparable since middle school. I remember being so grateful to have found them after Ezra abandoned our friendship and left me with no one.
Now, as I approach Dot, I can’t help but wonder how I ended up right back where I started.
“Rue!” She brightens when she sees me and scoots over toward Zayne to give me room. “Hey!”
“Hey, Dot.” Relief loosens my stomach at her reaction, and I take the seat next to her. Zayne offers me a friendly wave, too.
“You’re coming tonight, right?” she asks me.
“Tonight?”
“Yeah, to my birthday party. I texted you last week, remember?”
I wince internally.Right. Of course. And here I thought she was starting to forget me when I’m the one who forgot about her.“Yeah, I’ll be there,” I say.
She smiles. “Great. I, uh, hope it won’t be awkward with Meredith and Carlton coming.”
My stomach clenches.Why did she have to mention that right now, in public?As much as I like Dot, she sometimes lacks self-awareness in social situations, so I try not to hold it against her. I clear my throat, trying to sound normal when I answer her. “He’s—I mean, they’re coming?”
She nods. “It felt weird not to invite them, considering we’re on good terms now. Don’t want to rock the boat, right?” Zayne plays with her braids as she talks, making her blush.
I swallow. “Right. Wouldn’t want to give Little Birdie something to talk about tomorrow.”
They’re both silent for a moment, and then Zayne’s eyes narrow. “Little Birdie is gone. Why would it talk again?”
For some reason, it surprises me they haven’t heard the news yet. Wordlessly, I take out my phone and show them the screen on the Little Birdie app Carlton led me to during homeroom.
Dot’s mouth falls open, and Zayne looks murderous.
“Seriously?” she whispers. “How is that even possible?”
