Chapter 5

My phone buzzed.

Scarlett's message popped up with a screenshot. It was the very comment she posted and then disappeared.

Right after, she sent a voice message. I tapped to listen. Her voice sounded like she was barely holding back her anger.

She said, "Maria, don't tell me you can't see it. There's something weird going on between your boyfriend and that two-faced friend of yours."

I held my phone, not knowing what to say.

My fingers hovered over the keyboard. I typed something, erased it, then tried again, but deleted it all.

I could barely get a word out, like my throat was clogged with wet cotton.

Suddenly, I remembered when Toby and I first got together. Some girl from another class posted on the school confession page, asking for his contact info.

When he saw it, he replied right there in the comments: [I am already taken. Don't bother.]

He sent me a screenshot, then slid his phone over to me.

He said, "Check my WhatsApp. See if I've added anyone shady. Go ahead and look through everything."

He laid his phone out on the table, pushed it toward me, completely transparent, like a clear, cloudless sky.

Back then, Toby was so worried I'd get jealous, or misunderstand, or feel even the slightest bit insecure.

Those days were gone for good.

The boy who used to hand me his phone without a second thought drifted away somewhere along the line.

And now, he was goofing around with Chelsea, sword-fighting with barbecue skewers, basking in all the comments calling them a golden couple.

I didn't know how long it was before I heard footsteps and laughter coming from downstairs.

Toby and Chelsea came back.

Chelsea was holding a thermal bag. As soon as she walked in, she waved it at me. "Maria, the oatmeal's still hot. Hurry up and have some!"

Before I could say anything, she came right up to me.

She said, "Oh, and by the way, the Instagram poll ended in a tie. You get to be the tiebreaker!"

Her eyes sparkled, and her voice had that playful, teasing lilt.

Staring at their smiling faces, I felt utterly exhausted, like all the energy had drained out of me.

I said, putting my glass down, "I don't know a thing about architecture, and honestly, I don't care about the poll. You guys can do it without me."

Chelsea froze for a moment, her eyes suddenly welling up with tears.

Toby frowned, grabbed my arm, and pulled me into the bedroom.

He set the oatmeal and medicine on the table before lowering his voice. "Is your stomach feeling any better? Have some oatmeal first."

I didn't say anything.

Toby shot me a look and let out a heavy sigh. "Once you finish the oatmeal, go out and make things right with Chelsea. She deserves an apology."

I looked up at him and wondered if I had heard him wrong.