Chapter 30: The Last Pretense
Wednesday arrived with nine days on the clock and the particular quality of tension that had become their new weather — constant, low-grade, present in everything. The way Jaden held his coffee cup. The way April counted her steps between classes without realizing she was doing it. The way the rankings board in the main corridor felt like a taunt every time she walked past it.
Chloe found them before first bell.
She came around the corner of the east wing with her leather notebook already open, her designer bag over one shoulder, moving with the focused energy of someone who had not slept enough but had used the sleeplessness productively. She stopped in front of April and Jaden without preamble and turned the notebook to face them.
"Vanessa," she said.
The name landed in the space between them like a stone dropped into still water.
Jaden looked at the notebook. April looked at Chloe.
"Tell me," April said.
Chloe told them.
