Chapter 11: The Last Day

The video was two minutes long, and Noah watched all of it with the sound low.

Cassian sat up in the dark and watched it over his shoulder.

It showed a courtyard bench and Britteny's tablet, and his own face looking at a pie chart.

"Make him fall for you and get the letter," Britteny said on the little screen.

"Sure," said Cassian's voice. "I'll make him fall for me."

A message sat under the video.

From an unknown number: Happy for you, Noah! Ask him about Phase 4. He loves a slide.

Noah put the phone face down on the blanket.

"It was recorded the day of the hearing," Cassian said.

His mouth was dry.

"It's old. They sent it tonight so you'd see it tonight."

"I can tell it's old," Noah said. "You're wearing the cardigan with the button missing."

"Noah."

"You told me it was something you did at the start."

"It was. I stopped on Friday. I said no to them at the lounge. I left the chat."

Cassian's words came out all at once.

"I wanted to tell you before the ring. I was going to tell you tonight, and then you looked at me and I couldn't."

"You said it could wait until tomorrow."

"I know."

"It's tomorrow," Noah said. His voice was level. "It's already tomorrow."

Cassian reached for him, and Noah stood up.

He found his jeans on the floor and put them on, and then the green hoodie.

Then he took the ring off his finger and held it in his closed hand.

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