Carol moved into the kitchen, leaving behind a swirling cloud of thoughts in
Kate's head.
It was this place. The town. The buildings, the school, Nitrovex, the people.
She sighed. Mostly the people. The ones with the bright-blue eyes.
No. Don't go there. Don't think it. Remember what happened? Broken dreams. Broken glass. Broken…everything.
* * *
Twelve Years Ago
Golden Grove High
Katie saw the shards of her mobile skittering across the floor under the cold glare of the gym lights.
It was a nightmare. It had to be. It couldn't be happening for real. Not after
all her work, her time. She didn't deserve this. She had won.
But it was gone. The delicate pieces she had spent hours fitting together all
summer and after school were scattered across the gym floor like an evaporating
dream. Everyone had stopped and turned to look at her, every face petrified at the destruction.
Except for Peter, who was clumsily trying to get up from the floor. Peter,
whose stupid science project had blasted hers to smithereens. It was gone, and heart screamed in a thousand different directions as she dropped to her knees.
But it was still nothing—not even close—to the sting of betrayal that pierced
her soul. Nice Peter, loyal Peter—the one time she needed him to come through
for—the one time, and he chose himself. Chose Penny. Over her.
She was too shocked, too angry to even cry. She hopelessly started to pick
up a few pieces of glass from the floor, but it was over, it was gone. No one would be giving her a scholarship to anything unless it was to a trade school to
learn how to sweep up garbage.
A hand touched her arm. “Katie, I'm so sorry. It was an accident. I'm so sorry.”
Katie wrenched her arm away. “Don't even…just don't,” was all she could say.
Peter kneeled down and began to help her pick up pieces. “At least let me help.”
She whirled on him. “Haven't you done enough already? And what do you
care? You've got your prize. You won. You and that…” She almost said it out loud. Witch! “Just…go back to your pipes and tubes and blow something else up.”
Peter stood, looking back at his own project, now a pile of steaming tubes and dripping pipes. “Well, mine's kind of a mess, now, too.”
“Oh, really? Well, you deserve it.” She lowered her voice. “I thought you were my friend, Peter. I even thought you were…” She stopped. “I thought if anyone was going to stand up for me, anyone in this stupid school, it would have
been you.”
His voice was small, tiny, almost like a little boy. “I'm sorry.”
“Yes, sorry, oh, that helps now.” She almost laughed. “You ruined my life, Peter.” The tears were unstoppable now, the pain wrenching them out of her heart in sobs. “You ruined my life.”
He just stood there. His mouth opened as if he were going to say something,
then he turned and went back to his table.
That was it. It was over. Not only was her project ruined, but Peter was gone.
Even if she wanted him, she'd never have him. Not his stupid smile or his blue
eyes or—or anything. Phase three, homecoming, all of it. It had all come crashing down with her mobile.
Her eyes stung from the tears. She knew everyone was watching her but
trying not to, embarrassed by the scene.
The rocket, now a lifeless chunk of metal, steamed on the ground, dead and
