CARA CALLED, CRACKING OPEN THE DOOR OF HER bedroom after school. She was panting a little from her sprint home after the final bell. She couldn’t wait to tell Zoe about her encounter with Ethan in the training room. “Zo?” The curtains were drawn against the gray afternoon, leaving the room in half-shadows. Cara softly shut the door behind her.The room was deserted, the bed tumbled with sheets and sprawling pillows. A stack of magazines sat on the floor near the nightstand, along with an empty plate. Cara’s heart started beating a little faster. “Zoe?” She looked around. Then, in an instant, she knew, just knew, that this was the end. Zoe had left, gone who knows where, leaving her to face her life alone. Her breath whistled through her nostrils.She heard a clink from the bathroom and rushed over to the door. Zoe was there, standing at the counter, carefully applying mascara. The rest of Cara’s makeup—most of which was years old—was spread out in front of her. Zoe looked around.
