Page 35 of Pick Me Up On Tuesdays

I took a bite.

Regret. Instant regret.

It tasted like it had seen things. Like it had absorbed centuries of bad decisions. Like it was, in fact, a curse.

Joy sighed. "If I die from this, tell my parents I went out fighting."

Mr. Dax clapped his hands. "Alright, finish up! I’ll read out the room assignments next."

I dropped my spoon. "I hate this trip."

Joy patted my shoulder. "We know, bud."

As we walked out, Mr. Dax, smirking like he was about to ruin lives, clapped his hands.

"Alright, listen up!" he called. "Room assignments!"

I frowned. Room assignments? Why did I have a bad feeling about this?

"Max and Logan!"

Max fist-bumped his fellow jock who had taken the fake name from a wildlife club member. That was fine. I guess.

"Mia and Joy!"

Mia grinned, and Joy shot me a thumbs-up. That was also fine.

"Shun and Lucy!"

Shun barely reacted. She knew, of course, she was going to sneak out to Max.

The rest of the list went on and on without me hearing my name. After each pair of not hearing my name, my stomach formed knots until now it was the last pair, and damn I hadn't heard his name…

Gods of peace and dignity please don't do this to me.

"And finally—" Mr. Dax glanced at the list.

But since when did gods hear me?

"Clark and Ethan!"

My soul left my body.

"No," I said immediately.

"Yes," Mr. Dax replied, already moving on.

"Wait—what—hold on, that has to be a mistake," I stammered, waving my hands. "Surely you don’t expect me to—"

"Rooming will be permanent for the next 19 days," Mr. Dax continued like I hadn’t spoken. "Any complaints?"

"Yes," I said.

"No one cares," he said back.

I turned to Ethan, horrified. He was grinning.

"This is gonna be fun," he said.

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