From the wings, Sophie watched the show go on.
She thought of what Brody said. We are what people expect of us, right?
And she thought of the names on the library sign-in:
Caleb Rhines 7:15 A.M.
Winston Byrd 7:20 A.M.
She thought of the mornings she’d come in by 7:10 A.M. for swim practice in seventh grade. Some kids whose parents worked early were dropped off for breakfast an hour before the homeroom bell rang. The only places they were allowed to go to were sports practices, the cafeteria to eat, or the library.
She tried to remember who she’d seen back then. Rose Reed, definitely. Curtis Milford. Miranda Garland. Caleb Rhines. Winston Byrd.
Brody hadn’t written the list. He hadn’t pretended to be Caleb or Winston, thinking through how to cover his every move like a supervillain. Plus, the librarian would have known him. Everyone knew Brody Dixon. Writing in another name wouldn’t have worked.
It was Caleb or Winston. Or Caleb and Winston. But why?
As Nessa and Brody sang “Till There Was You,” their harmonies floating through the air and brightening the stage like fireflies, Sophie wondered if she should stop Nessa.
Brody hadn’t written the list, it was true, but he was most likely guilty of spray painting the locker. And he had done even worse stuff!
Was there suspension enough for breaking people down like he did?
No.
Curtain call was close. Maybe she had to make this decision with Nessa. As the song ended, she tried to signal to Nessa that they had to talk, but there was no time.
There was no time to turn back.
Revenge would happen, but maybe not justice. Or were they the same thing? Sophie didn’t know anymore.