‘I’m sorry.’ His voice comes out way too high, strangled. ‘I can’t – meet up, I mean. It’s not going to work—’ ‘It’s not optional.’ August leans forward, bared Sharpie all too threatening. ‘We have two weeks and I’m not failing an assignment because you’re lazy.’ Lazy. It must be true if the entire world agrees on it. Beck tries to keep his face neutral. ‘I have to walk my sister home. Then I –’ play the piano until my fingers bleed.
