Page 118 of Faultlines

Lucy barely looks up. Nobody else notices, but I do. Without thinking, I follow. The voices from the cast party fade behind me as I slip into the hallway.

I almost call out to Sloane before I hear her voice.

“You’re incredibly brave... or incredibly stupid coming here.”

My feet root to the floor. I edge closer until I can just see them around the corner.

Brooke lets out a tired sigh. “I’m leaving.”

“Leave faster.” The sharpness in Sloane’s voice makes my pulse jump.

I’ve never heard her sound like that. Ever.

“You know nothing about me,” Brooke says.

Sloane laughs. It’s cold and not amused. “I know enough.”

Enough about what? I inch closer.

Sloane folds her arms. “Stay away from Ethan and Claire... and most importantly, Ellie. You should never have come here tonight.”

My breath catches.

Why would Brooke need to stay away from us?

From me?

The hallway is noticeably cooler than the auditorium. I press myself flat against the wall, my breath held tight, trying to stay hidden.

“I’ve been trying,” Brooke says quietly.

“Not hard enough if you’re standing here.”

What aren’t they telling me?

Then Brooke whispers, “I’m sorry. I never should have gotten involved with Ethan.”

The words don’t make sense, disconnected from everything I know.

With Ethan.

My dad.

No.

That isn’t⁠—

My mind races backward.

My vision narrows and the pieces fall into place. My fingers tighten around the bouquet. The flowers crumple, and thorns prick my palm. And something inside me snaps.

I step around the corner startling both women. Sloane’s face loses all color.

“What did you just say?” I ask, my voice louder than I mean it to be.

I take another step forward. “What-did-you-just-say?” I yell, the words bouncing off the hard surfaces of the hallway.

“Ellie—” Brooke begins.