My lab partner's name is Jonah Vance and he is the only person at Hollow Creek who has ever beaten me on a chemistry exam, once, in tenth grade, and he has never once mentioned it. He was also, according to the group chat, at the bonfire for about twenty minutes before Maren sent everyone down to the water to collect driftwood, and he had been standing near the cooler while she arranged the food.
I found him Friday after school in the science building, where the juniors were doing a titration demo and the hall smelled like acid and chalk. He looked up when I came in and did not look surprised.
"You're collecting statements," he said.
"I'm collecting facts."
"That's a nicer name for it." He capped his flask and leaned against the bench. "I already told Officer Reyes what I saw. I was th
