NATHAN
Third period ends, and the hallway empties out within minutes as the crowd moves toward lunch and labs. I sling my bag over my shoulder, heading down the corridor, when footsteps come up fast behind me.
"Hold it right there, Carter."
I turn around.
River is standing a few paces back with his denim jacket sleeves cuffed, tortoiseshell sunglasses perched on his nose, and a giant iced coffee in hand.
"Hey, River," I say, stopping.
"Don't give me that calm, reformed-jock routine," he says, stepping up until he's three feet away. "We need to have a brief, non-negotiable summit."
Months ago, my instinct would have been to laugh it off or say something sarcastic. But River stood by Sophie when no one else in this building did. He has every right to stop me.
"All right," I say quiet
