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“I know.”

He handed me the bag but didn’t release the strap immediately.

I looked at him.

He let go.

Megan reached us then.

“Declan,” she said, touching his arm. “I’ve been trying to catch you.”

I stepped aside.

Her eyes went to his mouth, then the bruise. “That looks painful.”

“It’s fine,” he told her.

It had hurt a little when I asked.

I hated myself for noticing the difference.

Rook called my name from the doors.

I went to him.

I didn’t look back.

I was trying to keep one good part of the day for myself.

Megan found me at my locker before last period.

Sadie had a class at the other end of the building. Rook had already gone into class.

For once, nobody was waiting while I put my books away.

“Have you got a minute?” Megan asked.

I turned with my hand still on the locker door.

Her hair was tucked behind one ear now. She wore small gold earrings and had a notebook pressed against her chest.

Up close, she looked less certain than she had crossing the cafeteria.

“What’s up?”

“It’s about Declan.”

Of course it was.

She glanced toward the people passing behind us.

“I’m not trying to start something,” she said. “I just think we should talk.”

I shut my locker.

There were plenty of things I could have said to that.

I didn’t say any of them.