“That you’re happy all the time. That you don’t notice the cracks. That you didn’t see what happened in the parking lot last week.” His voice was low, even. “You saw Marcus shove Liam into a car door. You saw it, and you smiled and waved like the world was a parade.”

“Pretending?”

It smelled like old dust and warm electronics. Kael stood by the projector table, his silhouette cut by the sliver of light from the high window.

Sixth period ended. She told her friend Sophie she had a migraine. She lied to Coach Harris about feeling faint. Then she slipped down the north corridor, past the trophy case that hadn’t been dusted since the 90s, and pushed open the heavy door of the AV room.

Trinity does what I say.

He stepped closer. The air grew thick. “I want you to stop pretending.”