Page 323 of Ruthless Court

Several girls from our floor. Two guys I recognize from one of Noor’s classes. Maeve sitting cross-legged on my rug holding a bowl of popcorn. Someone has dragged a beanbag chair into the doorway.

Another message arrives.

Lila: BRING KANE.

I lock my phone.

Absolutely not.

Kane turns toward the road leading to Briar.

“You okay?”

“Yes.”

Another vibration.

Noor: She is kidding about Kane.

Then:

Lila: I AM NOT.

I stare at the screen.

Kane pulls beneath the stone arch in front of Briar Hall.

The third-floor windows glow.

I can see shadows moving behind the curtains.

Someone opens a window.

Music spills outside.

Then a girl yells something unintelligible from above.

Kane puts the truck in park.

“Looks peaceful.”

I look at him.

Then the building.

Then my phone.

Another picture.

Someone is eating pizza on my desk.

My desk.

I inhale slowly.

“Kane?”

“Yeah?”