ecause you know their reaction will hit you like Newton's third

than I know myself sometimes, so whenever something big com

ng how on earth I'm going to sneak out without telling her. She kn

p staring at me like that," she quips, pulling me o

ourish, letting me know she's won this round too. I sig

w," she notes, leaning in with a look of mock horror. "Are you

ling a bit hot," I say, trying to brush it off, but she's instantly on high alert, reaching

g else bothering you?" she asks, h

with a forced smile, inwardly realizing that fa

doesn't notice. It's a message from Jugyoung: Be t

, Millie's here, I don't k

y eye. She's watching me, her eyes shar

yet, but that's enough to make m

s, her gaze flicking be

nts the notes for tomorrow," I say as casually a

chewing thoughtfully before commenting,

ere, stuck on the fact that in just an hour, Jugyoung will show up at my place

m her. Even thinking about hiding something fr

on everything. One look at my face, and she'll know something's up

ttle. In all these years, I've never had a boyfriend,

sible shield around me, ensuring any guy who might'v

What if there's actually a spark between us? What if I actually end u

want to ta

pulling one out and popping it into my mouth w

sing it to her ear. "Hello?" she says, her expression unreadable,

t's Millie's poker face, and if there's one thing she's perfected, it'

hing me but with a distracted air. "I'll be th

ves in check. "Who was that?" I ask, a casual sm

Hannah from my team," she explains. "She's stuck at school without a ride. Her m

ing at school this late?" I ask, trying to keep the conversation go

"No clue. Our practice ended ages ag

the door. The moment I hear it click shut, my phone lights u

he asks, a laugh h

the door, lowering my voice. "

drifts through. "Because I planned it, obviou

her smirk through the phone. "Wait-what? How

ttle secret. But what matters is, you've got the perfect window now, so

itement and nerves, the thrill of doing

s. Every "sensible" outfit I'd normally wear for my par

ant to feel.

at are tight in all the right places. It's a little rebellious, a little unlike me-but ton

t out, and I swipe on a hint of eyeliner a

just a little less like "Grace the Good" and a

nd excitement mixing in my chest. Just as I'm slipping my p

uggled up on the couch, totally absorbed in an ep

under blankets, so when I walk in, all dressed up, their a

ien. A tiny wave of self-consciousness

so, one of Jugyoung's friends is throwing a pa

es, then, to my complete surprise, their faces b

he last time I saw you going to a party!" sh

eved laugh, caught off

oval. "Go have fun," he says. "Just...not too much fun," he

overed. Then Mom squints a little, the curiosity

I shake my head. "No, Millie isn't coming. Something

ybe don't mention this to her? She might fee

dding. "Alright, we'll keep it to

iting. I give them a quick wave goodbye, and a grin spreads ov

lly bouncing as she waves at me to hurry up. Charlotte is be

ce I've barely exchanged words with over the last cou

eat next to Hannah, and

ted!" she says, eyeing my o

tiny tube top and a miniskirt. "Ri

gear as she pulls out of the driveway. I

looking like that?" I ask, gestur

ns and a hoodie-super casual. Changed in Charlotte's car. Charlo

and slightly curious about when they'd even g

sane," Jugyoung says, her eyes sparkling a

rry niggling at the back of my mind. A part of me can't h

tons of people do all the time. Still, with Millie's absence looming over me,

oking out the window as the cit