DYLAN’S BEDROOM
Sunday, October 4th
7:27 P.M.
Dylan sniffed her arm.
Faint traces of Derrick’s sweatshirt—or rather, his spicy deodorant—lingered on her skin like fine French parfum. She wanted to sniff it all night but paced herself, fearing each inhalation would suck the smell from her pores, like a DustBuster on shag, until the scented crumbs were gone.
Lifting a cobalt blue velvet throw pillow off her gray chaise, she buried her arm for the same reason her mother would lock up the Dove chocolates: to avoid temptation. Then she gazed up at her peach-colored ceiling as if it were a flat-screen TV, replaying every perfect detail of her perfect day at Rye Playland. How she and Derrick had managed to lose the group the minute they’d gotten there. Oops! And how they’d laughed their way to stronger abs. And fed each other snacks like Siamese twins joined at the mouth. They’d even ridden every ride—twice! And they’d done it all without seeing Massie.
Ding.
Dylan felt like a lamp that had just gotten plugged in. The text was from him. She could just tell.
Derrick: WANNA double to SKL 2morrow?
Dylan bicycled her bare feet in the air. And then she turned him down.
Dylan: Can’t 
Derrick: Lunch @ the trailers?
Her fingers practically cramped in protest.
Dylan: Can’t
Derrick: Study?
Dylan hit send on another sad face.
Her heart pounded, waiting for him to respond.
Derrick: Didn’t u have fun today?
Dylan’s heart felt like an obese person trying to jump.
Dylan: Given.
Derrick: Then?????
Dylan quickly unfastened the clasp on her gold chain necklace and slid off her diamond D charm.
Rock side up, I tell him the truth. Rock side down, I lie.
She took a deep breath. With the flick of her thumb Dylan launched the charm above her. It landed on her chaise with a muted thud.
Diamond side up.
Dylan: Truth?
Derrick: Y
Dylan: U still belong 2 MB
Derrick: Belong?????????
Dylan shook her head while she typed, finding it hard to believe she was going to reveal one of Massie’s secret rituals. And even harder to believe she was honoring it.
Dylan: She sprayed u w/Chanel NO 19. That means she has a hold on u.
Derrick: Nsane!
Dylan: NOT 2 HER. CAN’T VIOLATE OR IL BE OUT OF THE PC. ONLY WAY 2 BREAK IT IS IF SHE THROWS H2O ON YOU.
Derrick: Tell her 2 do it.
Dylan: Can only do it when shez ready.
Derrick: So can u hang out?
Dylan: Not legally.
There was no screen activity for at least twenty seconds. And Dylan was certain she had lost him for good this time. Until . . .
Derrick: 1 Solution, 9 Letters.
After a solid minute of serious brain activity, Dylan finally figured it out.
DYLAN: