I stared at the doctor card in my hand. Ava stared at it, too. Silver was etched around the image of a figure kneeled beside a body. It took me a beat before I slipped it back into the envelope. Ava’s smile was too serene for the situation.

“Congratulations. Use it well.” I stood. The confusion on my face was genuine. Maybe that was why Ava didn’t immediately say anything. Maybe she wouldn’t have regardless. My feet walked me out of the room and into the hallway. Based on our conversation, I figured it would go to Justin. It should have.

It took me a moment to register I was back out in the hallway. Other students were milling about, all waiting to be called in. Justin was next to Abigail, although she wasn’t subtle in how much she kept distance between the two of them. When he caught my expression he gave me a wink.

“Turn out well?”

“We’re not allowed to talk about it.”

He grinned, before glancing over at Abigail, “You’re the last one then.”

“I suppose so.” Abigail leaned even farther away from him, her nose wrinkling. “You seem to be in a good mood today, all things considered.”

“Well, I guess you could say that.” There was no tension in his shoulders. The feeling he gave off was the opposite of everyone else around him. I guess when he was confident he wasn’t a target, it was easy not to be concerned. To him, the hunt was everyone else’s problems. His focus was somewhere else.

In that, we were the same, “…Do you think everything’s going to be ok?”

“No clue. Last year wasn’t too bad, but that really just depends on whoever is joining in. Each year is different. Some go surprisingly calmly, others…well. You already know about that.”

The dead girl that Fable wouldn’t let me look into. I pressed my lips together, temptation sliding into my stomach to try again. If I wasn’t sure unsure about what he’d do, I’d probably gone again at lunch just to spite him. Was it possible for fear to give way?

My thoughts were interrupted as Abigail clapped her hands. A bright smile was fixed onto her face, “Is it finally my turn?”

Ava’s smile was much the same as the one she left me with, “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“The best is always last, right?” She fluttered her fingers at me with a flourish before she went into the classroom with Ava.

Justin shook his head, “She really hasn’t changed at all, has she?”

“Is that a bad thing…?”

“There is a reason we broke up, you know. It wasn’t just all me.”

That was a can of worms I wasn’t ready to open, “Um…well, if I didn’t believe that I wouldn’t have…”

My chest burned. I couldn’t say it. This whole thing was an exercise in acting, and if there was anything I learned last time it was that I barely had the skill to be a random background character in a school play.

His eyes softened, and the burning spread up my neck at his pity, “I’m surprised you asked me on a date anyways.”

“T-that’s…” Now that he’d said that, we hadn’t worked out a story for all this yet. I ducked my head, no longer able to meet his gaze. I could feel a handful of curious looks thrown our way. He’d lowered his voice to make it seem like he was keeping it private, but kept it loud enough for others to hear if they were paying attention. “I thought Abigail would kill me…”

A glint in his eyes reflected back at me. I decided to pretend this was a long game of improv. If I didn’t, I wasn’t sure how I was going to be able to get through even this small conversation.

Justin’s fingers grazed mine and this time I didn’t pull away. He turned, then, voice going flat, “Everett. You’re late. I thought you were going to drop out this round.”

“I wouldn’t miss it. I got caught up in class.” Serious as ever, Everett loomed before us. I’d never been so close to him before, I just realized how tall he was. I’d thought Justin was a decent height, but he seemed so much smaller when compare to the boy in front of him. “Has everyone already been given cards?”

“Abigail was the last one. She should be out any minute.”

Everett’s eyes fell onto our hands, “If I recall correctly, she hates you.”

“Obviously. Nothing’s changed.”

“I can only assume it’s gotten worse.” He moved past us. “I wouldn’t test the fire, if I were you.”

The double meaning wasn’t lost on me, but Justin only shrugged it off, “I didn’t know you worried about me so much.”

Before anything else could be said, the door opened and Abigail was back. Her smile was the same as ever, and she was whispering something to Ava. She hardly glanced at Everett, and when she did it was clear she had no interest in acknowledging him. She merely pulled away from Ava and headed towards us.

“Alright, let’s get out of here.” She hooked her hand on my wrist and pulled me away from Justin.

He only raised both his hands, “Was that a little much for you?”

“Save it, or I’ll become a little much for you.” With that, she raised her hand and waved bye to Ava before taking me along with her. Justin kept easy pace with us, his shoulder occasionally brushing against mine. Each time it happened, Abigail’s eyes would sear into him like she was imagining a thousand different ways to kill. He didn’t even glance in her direction.

All I could think about was how strange it was to be in the middle.

//

Cyrus showed up to Abigail’s place later. Somehow, the three of us ended up playing games on the couch. Abigail was hyper focused on killing Justin’s character, and I was less playing and more watching the two duke it out. This had to be the first time Abigail showed any skill in a video game in her whole life.

When a knock on the door sounded, I hopped to my feet, “I’ll get it.”

With a normal shirt and jeans on, Cyrus was out of place on Abigail’s porch. We paused, one staring at the other. He briefly examined me, in my long skirt and cardigan, before dismissing me entirely.

“Sorry I’m late.”

“It’s fine.” I moved aside and let him in. He slowly walked in, taking in the small living room. It was probably the most cramped thing he’d ever seen. When he landed on Abigail and Justin, still completely engrossed in the game, the corner of his lips twitched.

It made me wonder what his real smile looked like, “Guys, Cyrus is here.”

“Give me, like, one more minute to finish this.”

“Oh please Justin, I’m going to be the one kicking your ass.”

I got the feeling they’d be at it for a while, so awkwardly tilted my head, “Um…give me a minute.”

I leaned over and grabbed my controller. It didn’t take long to beat them. It didn’t take much of anything. So engrossed in each other, they didn’t notice me barreling towards them. With an up special, I sent both of them flying off the stage. Their yells of protest were completely in sink.

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“Cinder! What was that for? I almost had him.”

Abigail’s harsh pout made me shrink away, “S-sorry. It’s just…the two of you would have been at it forever.”

“It’s a fair point, but we’re finishing this after the meeting is over.” Justin tossed the control onto the coffee table in front of him. With a wave of his hand he motioned for Cyrus to take a seat. “So, did things end up as expected?”

Cyrus was ready. He slid a card out of his pocket and placed it on the table. It was a beautiful illustration, especially for what it was depicting. A wolf was in forest clearing, his maw bloodied and a body covered by long blades of grass rested in front of it. At the top, in clean cursive, was the word ‘werewolf.’

“That’s that, then.” Justin placed his card down, and there was a simple villager card staring up at us. “Suffice to say, I failed to get the doctor card.”

“I told you they would have it on them.” Something pooled into my stomach as Abigail slid her villager card on the table as well. I slid my hand into my pocket, letting my fingers glide across the card I’d been given. “We have no way of dealing with Everett now.”

“W-wait…” All three pairs of eyes turned towards me. My mind was racing, trying to tell me something was wrong although I couldn’t quite figure out what. “That doesn’t make any sense…I thought…”

I thought Justin had given me the card for some reason. If that wasn’t the case then maybe they hadn’t cared who had gone to? But then, it should have been with the other cards, and Justin would have been able to get it easily. At least, if he hadn’t lied about knowing where they hid the cards.

“Cinder…?” Abigail prompted and I snapped out of it.

Slowly, I took the card out of my pocket, “…I got the doctor card.”

Placing it on the table besides the others made it real. Justin and Abigail’s villager cards laid next to mine, and Cyrus’s werewolf card directly across. For the first time, I could see a shift in Justin’s expression. I’d never considered he could falter. But it was there and gone in a flash.

He picked it up, turning it around to examine at all angles, “This makes no sense.”

“Why would they give the doctor card to someone they don’t know?” Cyrus was staring at it too, like he doubted the authenticity. “I’m lost on their motives here.”

“It’s a win for us.” Justin placed it back down, and he leaned back like he once more had no concerns.

“This is too weird to be considered something good. They’re obviously up to something.” Abigail took the card next, although I doubted it meant anything more than the obvious to her. Still, I’d been tempted to examine it again and again when I’d pulled it from the envelope.

It was hard to speak up, “D-do you think they know something about me, too…?”

“I never took you as one to have dirty little secrets lying around.” Justin smirked, but he was right. I couldn’t think of something they could reveal that worried me. It was impossible to know my circumstances as a ‘knight’ and everything else about my life was painfully boring.

“I think it’s because none of the core members trust each other.” Abigail gave the card back to me and then leaned back with her arms folded in front of her. She eyed Cyrus and Justin in turn. “I mean, it’s easier to bank on a new member doing their bidding than someone else. ‘To get what you want, do as we say’ and all that.”

“But Cinder doesn’t care about the club, and they have nothing to blackmail her with.” Justin frowned, but Abigail immediately shook her head.

“That’s not true. They have me.”

//

I kept to myself the rest of the late afternoon. Cyrus did as well. Justin and Abigail went back to their gaming war, and me and Cyrus found ourselves watching quietly. Abigail hadn’t been concerned about her declaration. It was only speculation on her end, but I couldn’t think of anything else that made sense. It could have even been the reason they considered scouting me in the first place.

At some point, Cyrus asked for water and Abigail had waved a hand towards the kitchen. Despite myself, I found myself following. I paused at the arched entrance, trying to remember when the last time it was that I saw someone in here that wasn’t Abigail or Nia. Even Abigail’s parents felt like a distant memory, now that they were working so much overtime.

“Did you need something?” He clearly wanted me to leave with the bite in his voice.

It made me flinch, but I stayed where I was, “Do you think what Abigail said had any weight to it?”

“Dunno.”

“…Really? You never heard them mention me or…” Or mention her. I shifted from foot to foot, wondering how he could act so welcoming at school and in class, but be so cold here in front of me.

He took a sip of his water, “They mentioned you briefly after that first meeting. Based on what I remember they didn’t think much of you. None of us did. I don’t know if that was decided when I wasn’t there. They clearly don’t like me, so why would they let me in on that kind of thing?”

“Right…” They’d also made him the werewolf. I wondered if both of those conversations had happened at the same time. If the one about me had happened at all.

“…I wouldn’t be surprised though.” He leaned forward, and this time when he examined me he did it much more carefully. “To them, you’re less of a stranger than all the new recruits. They know just enough about you to where they could make that gamble.”

Now I really squirmed, tempted to back away, “It’s just Abigail’s assumption though.”

“Right.” He moved away, his focus on the two in the living room. I could hear Abigail swearing, and I figured she was fighting a losing battle. “I never thought I’d see those two in the same room again.”

A twinge struck my heart and I glanced behind me, “O-oh. Yeah. It’s a little weird, especially since they left off on such a bad note.”

“Is he using you?”

“…W-what?” We were using each other. But was it that clear to others? If we failed even that much, and the other club members noticed, they could use that to their advantage.

I furrowed my brows, and Cyrus went on, “To get back with Abigail.”

“Oh.” I realized I actually had no idea if Justin was over Abigail and if she was over him. It’d been so long ago I’d just assumed they’d moved on by now. Besides, it was a bit late to hatch a plan like this to get back with his ex. With all of that crammed into my brain, I wasn’t sure what to say.

Then I remembered how Cyrus had said Abigail was attractive and it made my head spin faster. I’d never once considered my face as something more than a thing that I had but the obvious implication made me want to be swallowed into the ground. I bowed my head. I refrained from covering my face. I tried to think of something to say, to dig me out of this sudden hole I’d found myself in.

Arms wrapped around my waist and I was suddenly pulled back. Justin tucked me against him, and it surfaced a memory of my mom grabbing me when I was small and pulling me out of the street and against her body, arms shaking. It did not feel romantic, but it did feel like concern.

“Are you alright?” It was the slightest of voices, so soft only I could hear. I gave a faint nod and he raised his voice to address Cyrus. “Whatever you’re talking about over here, you’re wrong.”

“…I was just expressing my concern.”

Justin let go of me, but he took my hand. It was the most solid and naturally the act had been so far, “I know you don’t always think things through—Hell, that’s the main reason you keep getting into it with Everett and why it’s escalated so far—but sometimes the shit you say hurts.”

“What? I—” Cyrus cut himself off, and I knew he was looking at me. I couldn’t look at him again. “That wasn’t my intent…”

“Well.” Another weight was thrown against me, and I yelped as Abigail’s arm landed on my shoulder. “I think it’s time to wrap this up. The two you need to get home.”

“Right…” Abigail practically herded Cyrus out of her house. She’d have tried to do the some thing to Justin if she hadn’t noticed my hand trembling in his. It was dumb, really. The last sort of thing I should be concerned about. Telling myself that didn’t make the hole in my chest close up any faster.

The moment she slammed the door shut after him, she whirled on me and Justin, “What happened?”

“Nothing, really.”

Justin snorted, “Bullshit. I glance over and it was like you’d been struck by lightening.”

“I-I mean, it’s just…it doesn’t make sense. Us. Together. People will through it, won’t they?”

Justin looked like he wanted to say something, but Abigail cut him off, “Justin, you should leave to. I think this is a conversation for the two of us.”

“Kicking me out too, huh?”

“You have however long this lasts to play pretend. Now get out of here.” She shooed him, and he shook his head. He wore a smile but the way he kept glancing at me was betrayal enough.

He raised his hands, effectively letting mine go, as Abigail stepped towards, “Ok, ok. Got it. Just give me a second.”

“Bye Justin.”

“Yeah yeah, Bye Abigail. Bye Cinder.”

And then it was just the two of us.

I tried to keep it in. I really did. But Abigail looked towards me and my eyes started to water and if though I didn’t really cry it was enough. Abigail hugged me and I hugged her back and for a moment it was like old times again. I could hear her assurances and her faint floral smell and I couldn’t remember the last time it’d felt any of the things I was feeling right then.

“I’m sorry.” I managed.

“It’s fine. Come on, let’s make popcorn and watch a movie. You’re totally crashing at my place tonight.”

“B-but…”

Abigail pulled away so she could look at me, “Don’t pay attention to what anyone says about.”

I swallowed hard, “I…I don’t even think he meant anything by it I just…”

“It’s ok.”

“W-when Justin pulled the whole fake dating thing on him Cyrus didn’t believe it because…” It was gross. I didn’t even want to say it but Abigail squeezed me in reassurance. “Because Justin used to date you. Even if he doesn’t mean to imply it, it’s obvious that I’m a step down—”

“I’m going to fucking kill him.” Her voice was so calm when she said it, it scared me out of my anxiety. “He should be glad he’s the werewolf and not me.”

A laugh bubbled from my throat, “P-please don’t kill anyone.”

“Only if you promise to spend the night?”

“Ok ok, I’ll spend the night.”

A smile bloomed on her face, “Great! I’ll make the popcorn, you can choose the movie.”

She gave me one last squeeze before darting off toward the kitchen. I watched her go, before shaking my head. In the end, it didn’t matter. If Abigail and Nia thought I was fine as I was, that’s all I needed. I repeated that in my head and went to choose a movie from the shelf.