There wasn’t even a hint of sunrise in the black sky, just the electric glow from the city beneath it. It might as well have been the middle of the night. But inside, it was bright. And warm. And loud. Sadie dragged me through the crowded hallways. “Excuse us,” she blared, nudging a knot of underclassmen out of the way. “Coming through.” “Could you maybe try to sound less like a carnival barker?” I jerked my elbow away. “Everybody’s staring at us.” “Everybody’s staring at you.” Sadie grabbed my arm again. “And we’re running late because you took twenty minutes rearranging your hair this morning, and Mrs. Taylor will blow a fuse if I’m tardy to AP History.” She took off, still holding my sleeve. I flopped after her like an untied shoelace. Locker doors slammed around us. Fluorescent lights blazed. I kept my eyes on the floor and my mind on staying vertical, but I could still hear the whispers that buzzed us like mosquitos.
