"Well, it's about time, okay?" "Thing's been going off for ten minutes." "Come on." "He'll be here any second." "You haven't told him you can't do this stuff on your own?" "Once I'm better, I won't need to." "I get it, okay?" "My girl, she bolted once she saw me use a bedpan one too many times." "Am I interrupting something?" "Just Oli professing his love." "I have a surprise." "Remember how we talked about going to Europe?" "A backpacking trip?" "My grandparents got it for me as a graduation gift." "It's our chance to relive Paris." " It's everything we dreamed about." " I know." "I can't wait to start planning." "Whoa, you okay?" "Um..." "Yeah, I'm fine." "Ooh!" "You totally have that post-sex glow!" "How was it?" "Amazing?" "Mind-blowing?" "Even better?" "All of the above?" "I don't know." "Like, I feel different now, but kinda the same?" "Sex changes everything." "See?" "He can't even leave you alone now for a millisecond." ""Day 43, the night we picnicked under the stars."" "What are these?" ""The night we shared ice cream"?" "They eat a lot of food." "Rasha, you make every day one to remember." "Will you help make prom day just as special?" "Aw!" "Just imagine how amazing your promposal's gonna be!" "Mmm, I don't know." "Is Tiny really the kind of guy who'd do something big like that?" " How do you think he'll do it?" " Maybe in science class?" " That's where we first talked." " You're so lucky." "I wish I had a senior boyfriend to ask me to prom." "Maybe he'll get, like, a little armadillo?" "That was our thing." "What?" "Winston once got you a goat." "You used to be so shy." "Now look at you, waiting for your huge romantic spectacle." "I guess you're right." "Sex really does change everything." "Oh, is that a Parisian suite for us to eat, pray and mostly love in?" "Well, actually, for the full European experience," " I was thinking..." " Hostels?" "You guys are gonna fly halfway around the planet to have roommates?" "Or interesting people from all around the world." "That could be fun." "Don't worry, there will still be plenty of time for love." "Like at the top of the Eiffel Tower." "You guys, it sounds like an amazing trip." "I know." "Six months ago, this wouldn't have been possible." "Now, it is." "I want everything to be perfect." "Here, let me grab the study sheets." "Do you know how many steps it takes to climb the Eiffel Tower?" "It has elevators." "Plus, I'm getting better, so I'll be able to do it." "Is that what your doctors say?" "Your special accommodation room for tomorrow's test is set up." "Actually, I..." "I think I'm ready to take it with the rest of the class." "Oh." "Okay, well, let's review, then!" "Question one." "Oh, they're cute." "What about them?" "I don't want to date another couple, Lo." "That was a one-time thing." "Really?" "Because I heard once you go "pack,"" "you never go back." "Wow, that's awful." "Mmm." "People are still mad about what he said at that assembly." "Why?" "What he said was smart." "Do you mind if I partner with him for our electricity project?" "And there it is." " You like him." " I just feel bad." "And he's such a nice guy." " He doesn't deserve this at all." " Classic, Lola." "Back at it again with those problematic crushes." "What's that supposed to mean?" "Your best friend's crush." "A rando who knocked you up." "You just make bad choices." "You dated both Zig and Esme." "I'm not the one who makes bad choices." "Hey." "Uh, do you maybe want to partner up for our next science project?" "Uh, yes." "I'd like that." "Um..." "I'll see you in class?" "Be careful." " Hey." " Hi." "Why is everyone so worried about me hanging out with him?" " He doesn't strike you as angry?" " I've seen you get pretty angry." " Wait." "What are you guys saying?" " Nothing." "Nothing." "It's just, you know, nobody knows him." " And he says all that weird stuff." " He's just a scared high school kid." "So was one of the Brussels attackers until the radicals got to him online." "Okay, this is stupid." "You guys think he's a terrorist just because he's not from here?" "No, not at all." "Anyone can be radicalized." "Vijay could be an extremist..." "even with that silly hat." "You can't judge a book by its cover..." "But you'd get a pretty clear idea from his browser history." "Okay, but what if it doesn't work?" " It'll work." " What's the backup plan?" " I tested it myself." " What if she says no?" " You're here early." " I, uh..." "I needed to prep something." "Oh, great!" "Um, that you're prepared, I mean." " Hey." " Hey." "Come on, come on, come on." " Yes, Jonah!" " Oh!" "So, what do you say?" "I already bought our tickets, dummy." "Whoo!" "Yeah, Jonah!" "Um, Shay... you okay?" "Oh, yeah, I'm just really excited for them." "What does that mean?" ""I am sorry."" "Just because my girlfriend left, doesn't mean Miles will." "J'accepte." "Good, because I'm starving." "Let's hit the caf." "It's pierogi night." "Yeah, actually, I'm just gonna finish this, and then, uh," "I'm probably gonna eat in my room while I study." "Have a geo test." "You've been at it for 40 minutes." "Maybe you should slow down." "I'm fine." "Really." "Four weeks until Europe." "I need to be ready." "Good enough for a five?" "Is your coordination even there yet?" "Of course it is." "Are you okay?" "Yeah, I just missed a step." "Take it easy." "Last time I went this hard, I was stuck in bed for a week." "I'm fine." "Seriously." "So, that promposal you planned for Jonah and Grace was pretty cool." "Sure, if you're into that." " You're not?" " It's kind of ridiculous." "I mean, it's just prom, not a wedding proposal." "Well, it's special for some people." "The ones who've got something to prove, but we don't need that." "You don't think prom's a chance to celebrate with friends?" "We can do that whenever, without wasting hundreds of dollars." "I guess you're right." "I'm so happy that you're not one of those girls who freaks out about prom." "Yeah, we can do our own thing that night." "Yeah, sure." "You can..." "We can watch a movie at my place, or whatever." "Yeah, sure." "Whatever works for you." "I don't even know where to start." " What are you doing?" " Mustache!" "Okay, let's get serious." "Okay, uh, "Strip the wire and connect it to the..."" "Oh." "How do you know how to do that?" "Oh, I learned in Syria..." "from my cousin." "Oh, for fun?" "You didn't have, like, video games?" "Um, they play so rough." "Excuse me." "Calm down, calm down." "Come on." "Come on, join your sister." "Now, don't make too much noise." "What are you doing?" "Um, I was just about to order some pizza." "You were searching my computer." "I didn't find anything, I swear." "What were you hoping to find?" "My... my friends made me believe you were talking to someone bad." " And you believed them?" " No, I just..." "You should go." "Tristan?" " Still in bed?" "Our test is today." " I, um..." "I just need to..." "Just wait in the hall." "I'll be right there." "No, let me help." "Where are your pants?" " Please, I'll just be one second." " No." "This is good practice for Europe." " Miles, just wait." " Here." "Miles." "Uh, Tris, I..." "I..." "Here, let me help." "Just stop." "Just..." "I told you to wait in the hall." "Uh, I'll get you another pair of boxers." "What do these say to you?" "European night club?" "I don't know." "Not "I'm so sorry I accused you of being a terrorist"?" "Don't tell me you listened to those conspiracy theory morons." "I saw you searched for these." "Please take 'em." "I'm so sorry." " I know how hard it is to be different." " You do?" "My family's from Argentina." "I didn't learn English until I was in kindergarten." "Did they think you were going to hurt them?" "No, but they thought I was, like, some sort of explorer." "Like Dora?" "Okay, anyway, um, not the same, but what I did was unforgivable and if you never want to speak to me again, I get it." "Wait." "I..." "I need your help." "Anything." "I was talking to someone online." "I..." "I thought he was a friend, but..." " He wasn't a..." " A radical?" "I think so." "Did he try to get you to do something bad?" "He wanted me to come back to Syria, offered to book me a flight..." "How could I be so stupid?" " We have to tell someone." " We can't!" " What if he comes after me?" " The police will stop him." "The police?" "What if they think I was involved?" " But you weren't, right?" " No!" "But I..." "I've been talking to him for weeks." " There... there are conversations." " Okay, uh, meet me after school." "We'll scrub all your socials and devices." "You know how to do that?" "I think I know someone who does." "Hey." " What cat dragged you in?" " Rough morning." "But I'm here and I'm ready to focus on the test." " Good luck." " Flip your papers." "So?" "Did he do it yet?" "Do you have pictures?" "Oh, please tell me you get to keep the armadillo." "I don't think we're going to prom." " It's just really expensive." " But you were so excited." "Well, I have to be fiscally responsible." "Look at you being all mature." " Sex really does change everything." " It's not like that." "We're good." "No, you're not." " Excuse me?" " It's simple economics." "Tiny got the milk for free, ergo he doesn't need to buy the cow." "What are you even saying?" " They had sex, right?" " Oh, my God." "So why would Tiny do a big promposal if he already got what he wants?" "It's not like that." "Seriously, we're just gonna... have a nice night in, just the two of us." "Like, watching a movie?" "Yeah, but why are you saying it like that?" ""Watching a movie" is just code." "He found a cheaper route to doing it than prom." "Simple economics." "Time's up." "How'd it go?" "There's always next time." "If I can't even pass a test, how am I gonna go to Europe with Miles?" "I don't know." "Maybe you can postpone your trip until you're ready." "It's important to take care of yourself, take the time you need..." "Wait, he peed on you?" "Was this before or after you told him you got into the London Writer's Academy?" "I didn't tell him." "I'm actually going to try to defer a year." "He obviously needs me right now." "See?" "Miles is willing to wait for you, too." "So I will delete your socials and wipe your hard drives, and poof!" "It'll be like you never existed." " Will this really work?" " Well, no one can see what isn't there." "Okay, here's Saad's phone." "Here's all of his usernames and passwords." "I'll go distract my brother." "Ah!" "I'm coming to get you!" "Okay, this is crazy." "Can't he just call the authorities?" "He can't, I told you." "We have to help him, don't we?" "I thought so, but look at this." ""The kids at my school are stupid." "No one would miss them if someone just wiped them out."" "We all say things we don't mean." "You've never felt alone?" "Isolated?" "No one understands you?" "Help!" "These tickle monsters have me pinned." "Fine, I..." "I'll do it." "Just go, before the tickle monsters devour him." "Here comes super-Lola!" "Little bit." "Yeah." "Just because we slept together, doesn't mean you can stop trying." "What are you talking about?" "You do this whole special thing for Grace and Jonah, but now that we've done it, you can't go out of your way for me?" " Okay, listen..." " No!" "I'm not, like, some cow, okay?" "And my milk is definitely not free!" "Hey, I'm trying to have a conversation here!" "Give me a second." "I gotta do a thing." "Shay, will you go to prom with me?" "Yeah!" "And then we add salt to the water to complete the connection." "And once we complete the circuit..." "Whoa." "Yes!" " Uh..." " Okay." "Maybe I had him all wrong." "Did I just see sparks?" "Well, that was the point." "Oh, you mean..." "Okay, maybe." "So... how are you doing?" "I feel less worried." "Um, it's weird not having social media, though." "That's okay." "I'll be your friend." " How can I ever repay you?" " Yael and I are volunteering at prom." "Come keep me company, I'll consider us even." "A magical night with a wonderful girl?" "You drive a hard bargain." "Put that there." "Can we talk about this morning?" "You can't give up the London Writer's Academy for me." "Well, it can wait." "Right now, I want to be here for you." "You're putting off all your dreams." "And..." "I think that we need to break up." " No." " All I've ever done is push myself... for you... and it's been killing me." "So this is my fault?" "I stood by your side while you were in a coma." "I was here during all of your rehab sessions." " I gave up everything." " I didn't ask you to do that." "After everything that we've been through," " are you seriously suggesting that..." " No, I just..." "I don't know." "I just can't do this anymore." "So I don't even get a say when it comes to my own relationship?" "Not when it gets in the way of my health." "If I'm ever gonna get better, I have to do it on my own."