Ishaan and Zack are in someone’s house, surrounded by students holding cups. Some are talking intently, some seem shell-shocked, and others are mugging for the camera.
ISHAAN: Hey, everyone, it’s Ishaan and Zack continuing our round-the-clock coverage of Boney Mahoney’s death. We’re live at Stefan St. Clair’s house, where current and former Carlton High students have come together after today’s tragic news.
ZACK, looking nervous: Technically, we weren’t invited to this.
ISHAAN: It’s practically a memorial service. Everyone’s invited. Anyway, we’ve been flooded with questions from our viewers, so we’re gonna address a few of them now. (Looks down at something in his hand.) First up: Jen from Carlton asks, Is this Ivy girl actually a suspect, or just a person of interest? Great question, Jen. Keeping in mind that we have absolutely no legal training— ZACK: Or knowledge.
ISHAAN: I would say that she’s probably both. Plus a fugitive. But again, those may not be the exact terms that law enforcement would use.
ZACK, under his breath: Where is Emily when we need her?
ISHAAN: Emily is, quote, not talking to either of you for the rest of my life. Unquote. Next question comes from Sully in Dorchester, who says, Don’t you rich pricks have anything better to do than…Okay, that’s more of a comment than a question, Sully.
(A girl pushes her way in front of the camera, breathless.) You guys. My best friend’s cousin’s dad works for a guy who knows a guy who bought the building Boney died in, and she said he said there might be drugs involved.
ZACK: I mean—yeah, that’s how Boney died, right? Drugs.
GIRL: Not just that. There were drugs found where he died. Like it was a literal den of drugs or something.
ISHAAN: Den of drugs. That’s good. That’s what we should title this episode.
(A boy with white-blond hair steps into the edge of the frame. He looks a lot like Charlie St. Clair, except taller and more clean-cut.) BLOND BOY, scowling: What’s going on here?
ISHAAN: Oh hey, Stefan. Great party. You remember me? Ishaan Mittal, we were in the same media technology class— STEFAN: That’s not what I asked. What’s going on? (His scowl deepens.) Are you filming something?
ZACK: Yeah, we’re with the Carlton Speaks Channel, and we’ve been reporting on Boney’s death all day, so— (The camera suddenly goes dark. Over the sound of confused protests, one voice emerges clearly before the sound cuts off.) STEFAN: Get the fuck out of here.
CAL
“You took the Sugar Babies?” Ivy gapes at me, betrayal written all over her face. “Why, Cal? Why would you do something like that?”
I wish I could use a bottle of paint remover to wipe off Daniel’s smug grin. I was going to tell Ivy—I even tried, briefly, when we were outside Crave Doughnuts—but not like this. “It’s complicated,” I say, rolling up my sleeves as my eyes dart to the hallway. “Hey, did you guys hear that?” I’m almost positive I heard footsteps, and grab hold of the distraction like a drowning man with a life preserver. “I think somebody might be coming.”
Daniel leans out the door, looking left and right. “Nope,” he says succinctly.
Ivy narrows her eyes. “Stop trying to change the subject and explain yourself.”
“I’m sure this is a fascinating story,” Daniel says, picking up his lacrosse bag. “But I don’t need to hear it. Trevor and I are going to Olive Garden.”
“Of course you are,” Ivy sighs, but not like she’s actually mad about it.
He lifts his eyebrows. “You coming home later, or what?”
“I…yeah,” Ivy says, getting slowly to her feet. “I’ll explain everything then.”
“Trevor has his mom’s car, so you can take ours,” Daniel says. His expression gets even more smug as he glances between us. “If Cal was your ride, I’m guessing you’re gonna need it.” He backs out of the doorway, and I give him the finger in my head.
“Okay,” Ivy says. It’s bad news for me that she’s letting him go like that, because it means all the laser-like attention that was focused on Daniel a second ago has shifted firmly to me. “Start talking,” she says, folding her arms across her chest. Then, before I can say a word, her eyes go wide and almost sympathetic. “Oh my God. Were you in love with me?”
“No! Come on, Ivy. Just because you and Mateo picked up right where you left off, and Charlie’s developed some kind of weird fixation, doesn’t mean the whole world is in love with you.” I say it with the force of complete certainty, and it’s not until the words are out of my mouth that I realize I just trashed the only excuse she might have been willing to accept.
She scowls. “Then why?”