“Hey, my girl.” “Oh, hey. Did I wake you?” I sit down on the edge of his bunk. “Nah, couldn’t sleep after all. It’s all too exciting.” I nod, biting my lip. He sits up and covers my hand with his. “Are you OK? You look a bit pale.” I shake my head. “Well . . .” I want to tell him about what Blake said, but I also want Noah to think I can get on with his friends. I’m also hyperaware that Blake is his best friend, and I don’t want to force him to have to choose sides between us. “How far back do you and Blake go?” “Blake and me? He’s one of my oldest friends. We practically grew up together. My parents bought me my first guitar the same year his parents gave him a drum kit. I used to go over to his basement and we would jam. Our first band was called . . .” He hesitates. “Aw, come on, tell me!” I say, nudging him. “OK . . . it was called The Wizard Boys. We were kind of obsessed with Harry Potter back then.” He cringes, but it’s adorable.
