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“From what?”

“School,” I offered with a weary sigh, as I stood up and unlocked the door. “The people in it.” Stepping out of the cubicle, I walked over to the sinks, leaned against one of the cold porcelain basins, and sighed. “Life.”

“Well, that’s a shitty thing to do,” Lizzie shot back. Hopping down from the toilet bowl she had been balancing on, she wiped her hands on her school skirt and stalked toward me. Her dark-blond hair was pulled back in a severe bun, and her lips were painted a scarlet-red color, making her look even more beautiful than normal. “We were worried to death about you,” she added, before pulling me into a hug. “You little dope.”

“It’s true,” Claire offered, scrambling down from the toilet bowl she had been standing on. “Not the dope part,” she added, coming to join us in a hug. “That was mean and unnecessary, Lizzie… We’ve talked about this. But the worried-to-death part.” She nodded. “We were definitely halfway there.”

“Sorry, guys,” I whispered, feeling swamped by my friends. Both girls were tall, both were blond, and both were looking at me like I had the answers to all their questions. Maybe I did, but that didn’t mean I could ever tell them. “I just… I needed—”

“A minute?” Lizzie offered with a knowing smile. “Yeah, I think you’re owed a few of those.”

“Am I in trouble for skipping my classes?”

“No.” Claire shook her head firmly. “Mr. Twomey’s just worried about you. He sent us to look for you, actually. We’ve literally been out of class all day, roaming the school for you.”

“And it’s a big school,” Lizzie offered dryly. “And you’re a tiny person.”

“I was just in here,” I confessed, feeling terrible now.

“Yeah, the P.E. hall?” Lizzie laughed softly. “Was honestly the last place either of us expected you to be.”

“He called us to the office first thing, too,” Claire added. “They all want to help, Shan.”

“I don’t want to talk to him or any of the teachers,” I choked out. “I told Darren to tell them that I didn’t want to talk.” I shook my head, feeling a little faint at the thought. “I don’t want to talk to anyone.”

“I know,” Claire soothed. “And you don’t have to.”

“That’s why he called us in,” Lizzie offered calmly.

“Yeah.” Claire nodded. “He wanted to make sure that we were looking out for you.”

“Like he even had to ask,” Lizzie scoffed.

“Come on,” Claire said as she grabbed my schoolbag off the slippery tiles and slung it over her shoulder. “We’re going to lunch.”

“And then we’re going to class,” Lizzie added as she pushed me out of the bathroom. “Together.”

“I’m scared,” I blurted out, feeling that familiar pang of panic claw its way up my throat as we walked out of the hall and down the steep steps.

“We know,” Claire replied, wrapping an arm around me as we headed through the courtyard. “But it’s going to be okay.”

“Yes, it is,” Lizzie agreed, folding a loose lock of her blond hair behind her ear. “Because you’re not alone in this.”

“I’m sorry, guys,” I muttered, feeling terrible. “I’m a pain in the ass.”

“Yeah, but you’reourpain in the ass,” Lizzie countered. “And we happen to be sort of fond of you.”

“Thanks,” I chuckled. “I think?”

“By the way.” Lizzie paused midstep to look at me. “Do you want to talk about what happened?”

“No,” I croaked out.

“You’re sure?”

“Just…just be normal with me, Liz,” I pleaded quietly. “That’s all I need.”

“Fair enough.” Lizzie nodded and continued toward the main building. “Just know that we’re here.”

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