Zoe's POV
If joy had a sound, it would have cracked through the tension in my chest the moment I saw Ashley standing there.
For a heartbeat, I froze.
How… How was she even here?
My gut twisted. My throat tightened. My pulse did an anxious, uneven tremble. I had hidden so much from her—even though she was the one person who always deserved to know everything. If only she had waited one more night. One more. I had planned to tell her everything at school tomorrow: about Zara's approval, about the rehearsals, about the lies, the guilt, the excitement, and everything.
She would have been ecstatic. She'd probably scream, yank my hair, jump on my back, and call me dramatic names that made no sense.
And she wouldn't even have the chance to be mad—because the news itself was enough to drown out every other emotion. I mean she'd be meeting Zara Montclair. That's all Ashley had ever wanted.
But instead, she was here. Now.
And my panic came alive like something with claws.
