53

Rana beams.

"Wow, that's great to hear! We'll be meeting outside Town Hall around midday if you want to join us."

She shuts the trunk of her car and waves one last time to you and the last couple of people—including Tobias and Zoe.

"Night, guys," she says, heading for the driver's seat. "Hopefully I'll see you around, Tobias!"

Tobias laughs, fidgeting a little on the spot, and Rana drives away, leaving the rest of you to walk home through the quiet evening.

You don't talk to Tobias or Zoe as you walk. When you reach your street, the two of them disappear into their house without a word. Tobias at least glances back at you—but you get the sense neither of them are in the mood for talking as they leave you alone on the sidewalk. At least, not to you.

You pause for a moment on your side of the street as you watch Tobias go in. You think about everything that's happened today—and the fact that, after all of that, you're not going to see him tomorrow. You're going to spend all of tomorrow with the memory of your botched attempt at stealing some paints hanging over your head.

As you realize that, you feel a surge of: