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riya’s death glare.
“They missed it by two hours,” snapped Tai.
“We’re sorry!” Shay raised one hand in apology. She grabbed Ying’s hand with the other. “We’re sorry. We were just—”
“Busy,” said Ying. She couldn’t quite keep the red out of her cheeks. “Working. Phones were—”
“Off,” finished Shay.
“In another room,” Ying finished at the same time.
They looked at each other. Shay stifled a giggle.
Nadia couldn’t take it anymore.
“Would it have been funny if I’d been hurt?” she said, quietly. “If someone on the street had been hurt?”
Shay was quiet now.
“Why would you two leave your phones? Your responsibilities? We agreed—” started Priya. Nadia rounded on her, cutting Priya off.
“You haven’t exactly been around, either,” she said, still calm.
“I’ve been going through some personal issues,” Priya said, anger rising. “And I actually have a job and school outside of G.I.R.L. Also, I control plants with my brain now, so that’s a bit of an adjustment.”
“Do you care at all about G.I.R.L.?” Nadia accused. “We’re supposed to be a team. We’re supposed to face things like that together.”
“That’s rich, coming from you,” Tai said, surprising Nadia. “Where were you before Midtown? Here? Or in Queens visiting someone who has literally nothing to do with G.I.R.L.?”
“That’s not fair—” Nadia rounded on Tai, but she was already wheeling her way toward the back of the lab.
“I’m done,” said Tai. “We’ll talk later.”
“We’re sorry, Nadia,” said Shay. “Really. We’re glad you didn’t get hurt.”
“Does Ying not speak for herself anymore?” Priya wondered aloud, snarkily.
“Why don’t you come over here and find out?” snapped Ying.
Nadia threw up her hands. “Stop. Be here next time. Or don’t. But figure out what’s important to you. And then let us know.”
Ying stared hard at Nadia for a minute. Then she spun, leaving the lab behind her at a run. Shay offered an apologetic look back at Nadia and Priya before following her. Priya pulled her blanket over her head and slumped back down on the couch.
Bobbi looked at Nadia. “Good advice. You gonna take it?”
Nadia frowned. It was late, and she was tired, and she didn’t want to think about this anymore. She just wanted to talk to someone—anyone—who understood. And there seemed to be a real shortage of those people at the lab these days.
“I’m going to go to bed,” said Nadia. She headed for her room.
“Hey,” Bobbi added, grabbing Nadia’s arm and stopping her before she got too far. “The list. Save Philly for me? I’ve got friends there. Could be fun.”
Nadia’s irritation fell away, replaced by surprise. And maybe, if she was honest with herself, a little bit of shame. She was mad at Bobbi and Taina for not understanding, for trying to hamstring her ambitions because they couldn’t—wouldn’t—understand why she wanted to be closer to Margaret, to work with her. But even as they fought and disagreed, Bobbi wanted to help. She wanted Nadia to have this, because at least on some level, she understood that it was important to her.
Bobbi cared. She wanted something good for Nadia, and just as she always had, she wanted to be a part of making it happen.
Nadia swallowed, remembering. She had been planning on doing the Insectarium in Philadelphia with Margaret. Perhaps it was better not to bring that up right now, though.
“Right,” Nadia said. She looked straight into Bobbi’s eyes and forced a smile.
