IceQueen17 followed up on a Tuesday, which felt almost polite, like she'd given me a reasonable grace period before deciding I'd had enough time to think it over.
New Message — IceQueen17
It's been eleven days. I paid for a delivery, not a maybe.
I stared at it during first period, phone tucked inside my binder at an angle that let me see the screen without Mr. Harlan noticing, half listening to a lecture on unreliable narrators that felt a little too on the nose for the morning I was having.
I typed back during the passing period, leaning against the lockers while the hallway swirled past me in its usual chaos.
Lila: I told you when you submitted it. I verify before I deliver. Verification takes as long as it takes.
The reply came almost instantly, which meant she'd been sitting wit
