Chapter 7The Morning After

“Luna! Hurry up, minôs. You’re going to be late for school.”

Luna stared at herself in the mirror, brushing her hair back from her face, then pushing it forward until she could hide behind it like a curtain.

“Luna!” Her mother was getting impatient.

“Coming.” She squared her shoulders and tucked her hair behind her ears. She turned and grabbed her backpack off of her desk. Just like any other day.

“What took you so long?” Issy already had her shoes and jacket on.

“Someone used all the hot water again.” Luna looked pointedly at her sister. “I had to wait for it to heat up.”

“Drama queen.” Issy pulled Luna’s hair, then ducked under her wild swing, laughing.

Luna scowled. “Come on, we’re going to be late.”

“Mom said she’d drive us. She’s waiting outside. Shotgun!”

Luna bodychecked her out the door.

“Hey!”

Issy ducked around her and jumped into the front seat of the car before Luna had even locked the front door. She climbed into the back seat and slouched down, wishing she was still in bed. Issy and their mother kept up a steady chatter about homework, chores, and movies while Luna closed her eyes and rested her forehead against the cool glass of the window. She was just starting to doze off when they pulled up to the school.

“Everyone out,” her mom called out cheerfully. Luna sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes. “Have a good day, Isabelle.” She looked at Luna. “Are you okay, honey?”

Luna smiled weakly.

“Yeah. Just didn’t sleep well. I’m good.” She opened the door and stepped from the peace of the car and into the dramatic noise of high school. She turned. “Bye, Mom. Thanks for the lift.”

Her mother blew her a kiss before driving off. Luna caught up with Issy, and together they pushed through the throng of students and headed into the school.

“What time did you get in last night?” Issy asked. “I didn’t even hear you.”

Luna avoided meeting her eyes. “I don’t know. Not late. I ended up leaving right after you did.” She felt the lie leave her mouth before she was even aware it was coming. She had never lied to her sister before and she was shocked at how easily it came to her.

“Really? What happened to Prince Charming?” Issy teased.

“I don’t know. Nothing. Don’t interrogate me, Is. I’m too tired.”

Issy looked at her curiously but let the subject drop.

“Okay . . . so . . . did I tell you that Gilmore Girls is finally on Netflix?” Issy, who regularly worshipped at the Church of Streaming Video, was always on top of the latest releases that Luna rarely had time to watch.

“Wait. What? Gilmore Girls? The show that we watched every single week without missing even one episode? How many seasons?” Luna was hanging onto Issy’s arm.

“Seven. Seven seasons of our counterparts, Lorelai and Rory. Seven glorious seasons of Stars Hollow!” Issy was jumping up and down, practically screaming.

“Oh, I’m so Rory. Brilliant but cute. On her way to Harvard or Yale.” Luna couldn’t help but catch her sister’s enthusiasm.

“And I’m definitely Lorelai . . . except for the whole mom part. BFFs! And you know what this means?”

The girls looked at each other, grinning.

“GILMORE GIRLS MARATHON!”

In the middle of an excited jump, Issy looked over Luna’s shoulder and saw the Queen Bean and her minions giggling and looking over at them. She turned to Ashleigh, glaring.

“What are you laughing at?”

Luna stopped dead and looked over, her heart pounding.

“Issy, let’s go.” She pulled on her sister’s arm.

Issy shrugged her off.

“No, Lun. I’m tired of this shit.” Issy walked over to the Queen Bean. “So? What’s so funny?”

Ashleigh rolled her eyes and tossed her hair over her shoulder.

“Seems like some girls will do pretty much anything to get a guy who’s out of their league.”

The lookalikes giggled.

“Ash! You’re so bad!”

Issy’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“What are you talking about?” She turned to her sister. “Luna, what is she talking about?”

“I . . . I don’t . . .” Luna stuttered as her face drained of colour.

Ashleigh looked triumphant.

“Come on, Luna.” Issy took her sister’s arm and started to drag her away, pushing past Ashleigh roughly.

“Wow. I wonder if all Indians are such sluts?”

Issy turned, her eyes blazing, and dove at Ashleigh. Shrieking, Ashleigh threw her hands in the air and covered her face, backing into the lockers with a bang.

“Issy! No! Come on!” Luna grabbed her arm and pulled her away. “You’ll get suspended.”

People were pointing and whispering now. Luna’s face was burning.

Issy glared at Ashleigh as Luna led her away.

“Did you see that?” Ashleigh was revelling in the attention. “They’re so violent.”

Her crew was fluttering around her as Luna and Issy walked away.

“Luna, what the hell was she talking about? What happened last night?”

“Nothing! I told you. I left right after you did.”

Issy stopped walking and faced her sister.

“Then what was she talking about?”

“I don’t know! I swear. They were drunk!”

Issy’s eyes searched Luna’s. She smiled finally and threw an arm around her shoulder.

“Did you see her face? I thought she was going to climb into a locker.”

Luna laughed. Relief written all over her face.