Queenie finds Harper tucked away in her room, nose buried in a book like she has been for days. It’s their school break, but Harper hasn’t taken advantage of it at all.
“I feel like you’ve disappeared, Harps. We live in the same house, but it’s like you’re not really here.”
Harper sighs, closing her book and meeting Queenie’s eyes. “Sorry, I just haven’t felt like myself lately. You can’t blame me for that.”
“I don’t,” Queenie says softly, “but you’re spending your last teenage days locked up, reading.”
“Reading is good for my skills.”
“Yeah, well, it’s also good for becoming an anti-social hermit,” Queenie says.
Harper sighs, frustration laced in her voice. “And what do you want me to do, Queenie? Call everyone and act like Sydney didn’t just use me for a quick woohoo?”
“I know people are talking behind my back,” Harper continues, her voice cracking.
“Let them talk, Harps. They don’t know you.”
“It’s easy for you to say,” Harper snaps. “You’ve got Jeb. He actually cares about you. No one would dare say anything bad about you two.”
“Things with Jeb aren’t as perfect as they seem. We had the college talk, and… I don’t think it’s going to work out.”
Harper blinks, caught off guard. “What?”
“Yeah,” Queenie sighs, her voice quieter. “We’re breaking up after prom.”
“Oh, Queenie. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Queenie shrugs lightly, though there’s a hint of sadness in her eyes. “You’ve had your own stuff going on, and honestly? I’m fine. Seriously, I am. Jeb’s a good guy, and I do love him, but… he’s not the one. I can feel it, deep down.”
“God, our lives are depressing,” Harper mutters.
“You’re making it 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 depressing than it should be. Did you forget about the guy who wrecked Sydney’s face for you? He’s practically under house arrest because of it.”
“Don’t exaggerate,” Harper sighs. “He’s just grounded.”
“He got expelled for you, Harper.”
“I didn’t ask Alden to punch Sydney in the face. I’m grateful, but that was his choice. Just like it was his choice to… well, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 be with me.”
Queenie’s eyes widen in realization. “Wait… what? Oh my Watcher! Did he say he likes you?” Harper covers her mouth, her eyes wide with regret. “Oh my! He did, didn’t he?!”
Harper sighs. “Not exactly in those words, but at Mal’s wedding, he did say something about wanting something different…”
“Harper, for the love of the Watcher, you 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 to go to Mal’s house and talk to him!” Queenie exclaims, sitting up straight.
“Queenie, stop. I’m not in the mood to even think about another relationship. Things between Alden and me are so messed up that it’d be impossible to fix.”
“Whatever. Don’t tell him you like him. Be miserable your whole life, but 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 go to his house and thank him for what he did.”
“Shut your mouth and go, Harper,” Queenie interrupts, her tone sharp. “He got expelled for 𝘺𝘰𝘶. The least you can do is show up and thank him.”
