Chapter 7: Bitter

I read the study guide, standing in the writing center doorway.

It was a dozen pages long.

The weather and umbrella example was on page two.

The star-marked questions were bold-faced.

Even the standard deviation joke was there, in italics, with a smiling face after it.

Not one line of it was written in Keeley's voice.

All of it was mine.

"Marlo," Dani said. "Breathe."

"I'm breathing."

"You're a color I haven't seen before."

The post had two hundred shares already.

Under it, Keeley had written: "I stayed up three nights making this for everyone who's been struggling. No payment, no strings. You deserve it!"

The comments were a flood of hearts.

"Queen."

"She's literally saving our midterms."

"The prettiest AND the kindest, I can't."

I put my phone in my pocket and went down the stairs without a word.

Dani followed me with her stapler in her fist.

Keeley was in the cafeteria at the center table, with six people crowded around a laptop.

She saw me, and her whole face lit up.

"Marlo! Did you see? It's going so well. I know you've been stressed, and I hoped it would help you too."

"That's my example," I said.

The table went quiet.

She tilted her head.

"Sorry?"

"The umbrella. The standard deviation joke. The stars on the questions. That guide is my notebook."

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