floor so the half circle they sat in became convex instead of concave, and included Amira and Marisa.
Marisa loved this aspect of parties, the unexpected groups you sometimes found yourself a part of, even if it was just for a moment. She was exactly this kind of dancer, too, preferring to stay away from the sweatiness of the dance floor itself and move at her own rhythm at the edges, maybe while standing in a group, dance moves woven into the conversation, just the slightest bounce in her feet and in her shoulders. She was perfectly suited to this party, and even though she hadn’t granted Peejay any concessions to be able to throw it, now that he had managed, it felt like a waste not to allow herself to enjoy it. The champagne had loosened her stiff muscles, and warmed her to this random little group. “Will someone get me a sip of water?” she said, emphasizing the “water” so they all knew what she meant.
Amira hesitated, wanting to do Marisa a favor, but wanting also to keep watching her dance in her seat, to tap her feet on the stool’s footrest, sway her hips. She wanted to see what it looked like when someone was loud about what they wanted and got it, wanted Marisa’s strength to carry over to her. In that little pause, Celeste got up, reaching for Marisa’s reusable water bottle, which was opaque and would hide the tiki drink well.
When Celeste came back she said, “Mind if I share?” and that’s how they all came to pass the bottle around, feeding their buzz together. Amira passed on the drinking but felt her mood lift all the same. The decathlon was far in the back of her mind, forgotten but not gone. Same for Kenji and the showcase. All around the school, people had forgotten, for now, their largest complaints.
* * *
The energy inside the building had changed, Ms. Duli was sure of it. She’d taken the last two shifts making the rounds of the building, opening doors quickly, certain each one hid the party and she was about to catch them in the act. A few kids were taking their chances with the water fountains, returning to them often. But Ms. Duli supposed it made sense. She looked around the foyer again, trying to pick up on what exactly felt different.
* * *
In the photography lab were Gina Trang and Suni Jones, who’d been dating for the past few months and were unsure what to do with their relationship, since Suni and his family were moving to Las Vegas in a month. They took their clothes off in front of each other for the first time, not knowing what it said about their relationship or future, but knowing it was what they wanted to do. This is how they would remember the other in the years to come, bathed in a soft red light, the smell of chemicals in the air, experimental black-and-white pictures hanging from clotheslines on the wall. They had no idea what the future held, but they knew they had each other. They kept their earphones in.
* * *
Jordi Marcos was one of the few who resisted dancing. He stalked around the building scowling, feeling the urge to run into the green room and tell the teachers what was happening, but unable to bring himself to do it. Even he didn’t know why. Especially every time he passed by the main doors and saw Peejay with that smirk on his face, saw Marisa sipping from her bottle in that self-satisfied way of hers. Ruining their joy would be sweet, and befitting. But it would bring the wrath of CIS down on his head. As much as he wanted to plow right through their joy, he didn’t want to cause himself more pain. So he continued past the foyer and stalked off to the library, pausing by the water fountain to take a long, spiteful pull from the sweet cocktail coursing through the building.
* * *
Omar and Joy video chatted with Lolo to keep her company. A few of her friends had come down after Peejay picked up the earphones, but they didn’t stick around long enough for Lolo to feel like she, too, was getting to party. Thankfully, one of these friends had left her a pleasantly sized cup full of lock-in brew. Omar, too, had had a few drinks, substituting the sloshing in his belly for actual sustenance. Eventually he