"Dustin, you can't just leave him in there all day," I say, my voice tight with concern as I peer into the tank. Dart seems bigger this morning—slightly, but enough that I notice. The thought gnaws at the back of my mind, making my stomach twist. "What if something happens while we're at school?"

Dustin brushes past me, grabbing his backpack from the floor. "Nothing's going to happen, Lacy. He's fine." His voice teeters on impatience, but I can still hear the edge of worry, like he's trying to convince both of us.

"Fine?" I repeat, glancing back at the creature in the tank. Dart's skin seems to gleam a little more sharply under the hazy light from the window, and I can't shake the feeling that he's listening to us. "Dustin, he's bigger."

"He's supposed to get bigger," Dustin insists, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. "That's what happens when something grows."

"All he eats are nougat chocolate bars. You don't think that's weird?" I ask, refusing to lift my eyes from the tank. The worry has been eating at me since last night. "And what are we going to do when Mom finds him?"

Dustin sighs, turning to face me with that look— the one only little brothers can give—that tells me I'm being paranoid, overprotective, and annoying. "Mom's not going to find him. She's already left for work!"

I want to believe him—I really do—but something about the way Dart is just sitting there, so still, so patient, sends a chill down my spine. "You're coming straight home to check on him," I command, leaving zero wiggle room for Dustin to argue. "No arcade, no DND, no AV club. Your ass is back in this house babysitting the gummy worm with legs."

"I promise," Dustin says, a bit too quickly, as if he's eager for me to leave him alone. "Has anyone ever told you that you're really paranoid?"

"Shut up," I snap, watching as he covers the tank with the blanket.

We head down the hallway, the autumn sunlight streaming through the kitchen window, casting a cool glow over the breakfast table. The scent of Dustin's burnt toast usually brings a sense of normalcy, but today, it feels off. The house is too quiet, too still. Even the creak of the floorboards seems louder than usual.

"Let's get out of here," I say, setting our leftover breakfast dishes in the sink without bothering to clean them like I usually do. "Mom's going to be home late tonight, so you'll have plenty of time to figure out what to do with Dart."

Dustin nods, grabbing an extra granola bar from the cabinet. "What about you?"

I feel my cheeks flush at the question as I grab my book bag off the chair. The last date I had was with Chuck, and Dustin gave me a hard time about it, claiming he'd heard that Chuck was dense and dull. I hated admitting that he was right. I chew on the inside of my cheek, wondering what he's heard about Billy from Max.

"I have a date tonight," I respond, refusing to look up at him as I slip into my shoes.

"A date?" he questions, muttering something I can make-out under his breath, "With who?"

I shoot him a look, ignoring the question and waving him out the front door. I gesture to my watch like we're going to be late and he huffs with annoyance. I follow him down the driveway, securing his bike into the truck. "Who is taking you on a date?" he asks again, clearly not letting this go. "Is it Chuck again? Is that why you're not answering? You're embarrassed."

"It's not Chuck," I snap, climbing into the passenger seat and turning the engine over. The truck sputters, and I swallow, knowing that it takes a few more tries whenever the weather gets colder, but once she finally roars to life, there's a noticeable squealing each time I turn the wheel.

"Who?" Dustin asks, clearly frustrated with my coyness.

"That's a good owl impression," I tease, turning up the radio to drown out the new sound of my truck.

"Oh my god," Dustin groans. "You're impossible."

"Billy Hargrove," I finally admit, smiling slightly at his dramatics.

"Max's brother?" he asks, snorting slightly. "I knew you liked the mullet."

"Shut up," I laugh, shaking my head.

Dustin doesn't push the conversation further, but I can feel him glancing at me from time to time as we drive. The radio filling in the silence between us, but it does little to distract me from my own thoughts, the knot of worry still lodged in my chest. My eyes keep flicking to the rearview mirror, half-expecting to see something slithering behind me even though I know Dart is safe – but maybe not so safely – tucked away at home.

We pull into the parking lot and I make a conscious decision to park a few cars away from Billy, trying to pretend like I didn't notice his car already parked and waiting.

Max is standing nearby, talking to Lucas and Mike, and I notice how my brother tenses at the sight of them. "I'll see you after school," Dustin says, already halfway out of the truck, his tone suddenly businesslike as if he's got something more important than classes on his mind.

I follow him, helping him pull the bike from the bed of the truck. "Remember what I said," I remind him, "ass in the house as soon as the bell rings."

"I know, I know! Straight home!" he waves without looking back, picking up the pace to join his friends.

I linger for a moment, fingers drumming on the stolen library books that I promised to return after school. The title of one catching my interest: The Reptilians and Amphibians of the Indian Subcontinent. I sigh, maybe I could calm my nerves if I did a little reading of my own. The idea of Dart being anything but a tadpole is ridiculous, but even as I flip mindlessly through the pages of the book, studying the images, the knot only tightens even more.

I head towards the entrance, the familiar chaos of high school engulfing me – friends shouting greetings across the courtyard, the scrape of lockers being opened and slammed shut, and the low murmur of gossip that never seems to stop.

I'm halfway to my locker when I spot Carol by hers, her head bent low as she whispers something to Nicole and Heather. Heather? My steps falter, and I quickly turn away, pretending not to notice. It stings though, more than I'd like to admit, seeing her so easily replace me, and with someone like Heather. I swallow the lump in my throat, focusing on the rhythm of my footsteps instead.

By the time I reach my locker, I've almost convinced myself that it doesn't matter. Almost. I start fumbling with the combination when I hear a familiar voice behind me.

"Lacy," Nicole greets, leaning against the locker next to mine, "you didn't call me back last night."

I glance at her, surprised she's even talking to me. Carol and Heather stand behind her and I feel my shoulders straighten, a weak attempt to appear taller, less bothered. "I was busy," I shrug, feigning interest in her attempt to be friendly, "was it important?"

"We were all at Tommy's," Nicole says, her usually bright smile faltering at the tightness in my voice, "we wanted you to come over."

"I had to help Dustin with something," I say, closing my locker with an unnecessary slam.

"See, Nicole," Carol grins, "she wasn't avoiding us. She was on mommy duty again."

Heather laughs, exchanging a look with Carol like they've been friends forever. I feel my hands gripping my books a little tighter, the tension in my shoulders locking.

"Yes, I have responsibilities," I hear myself saying, the tone of my voice low and sarcastic, "I'm sorry none of you know what that means."

"That's not what she means, right Carol?" Nicole asks, trying to cut the tension, but I'm already pushing past them, my knot of worry slowly tightening into a heavy lump of irritation that slips into my throat. Nicole is following me, a weak attempt to save whatever grounds of friendship we might have.

"You were the one that said you were tired of her blowing us off," Carol snaps back, the venom in her voice rising.

I skid to a stop, looking at Nicole, who is blushing. Her gaze falls on Carol, wide-eyed and guilty. "That's not what I meant," she mutters, more to Carol than to me.

I take a deep breath, trying to swallow the hurt that's clawing its way up my throat. A part of me wants to snap back, to say something sharp and cutting that would shut Carol up for good, but another part – the part that's tired of always trying to please everyone – just wants to walk away.

"I don't have time for this," I say, my voice cold. I don't wait for a response, turning on my heel and marching down the hallway, leaving Nicole and Carol behind. I don't look back, but I can feel their eyes on me, and can almost hear the whispers that are sure to follow.

My heart is pounding as I push through the crowd, weaving between groups of students who seem oblivious to the storm brewing inside me. I can feel the tears pricking at the corners of my eyes, but I blink them back, refusing to let them fall. Not here. Not in the middle of the hallway.

As I turn a corner, I spot a quiet alcove near my first classroom where a few students are huddled with their textbooks. Without thinking, I duck into it, leaning against the cool brick wall as I try to catch my breath. My hands are still shaking, and I clutch my books to my chest, squeezing my eyes shut.

Why does it have to be like this? Wasn't I still part of their group? Didn't they care about me at all?

I glance down at the stolen library book I've been clutching – the one on reptiles and amphibians. The absurdity of it all hits me, and I almost laugh. Here I am, more worried about losing my shitty friends, than a creature that I am convinced is dangerous living in my brother's room, but maybe that's the problem. Maybe I've been caring too much about the wrong things.

The bell rings, signaling the start of the first class, but I stay where I am, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me. It would be so easy to just skip class, to hide here in the alcove all day, but I can't. Just because one aspect of my life is spinning out of control, doesn't mean I need to let it all fall apart.

With that thought anchoring me, I push off the wall and adjust the books in my arms, straightening my posture as I head to class. The hallway is nearly empty now, with only a few stragglers rushing to beat the bell. I manage to slide into my seat just as the tardy bell rings, forcing myself to focus on the teacher's droning voice rather than the knot of anxiety tightening in my chest.

The minutes crawl by, and I scribble notes with half my mind elsewhere, still fixated on Dart and the biting words from Carol. A few times, I catch myself glancing out the window, wondering if Dustin is as distracted as I am. But I push those thoughts aside, reminding myself that there's nothing I can do until after school. For now, I just need to get through the day.

By the time lunch rolls around, I am slightly better. Most of the rumors that are swirling around are about Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers skipping school yesterday and not returning today. Either no one noticed the conflict between myself and Carol or no one really realized what was happening. I grab my lunch tray, my feet naturally heading towards my regular table, only to hesitate when I see Heather sitting in my spot, chatting animatedly with Carol and Nicole. Billy and Tommy are sitting across from them, locked into their own conversation, their backs to me. I freeze, and consider turning around, but Nicole spots me, and waves me over.

I approach slowly, my feet dragging beneath me, but glancing around the cafeteria, I realize I don't have anywhere else to go. Nicole begins making a spot for me, slightly pushing Carol's tray down, but I notice the way Carol pushes it back, shooting a look of warning towards Nicole. I start to think of an excuse, any reason to head back the way I came, but Billy is watching me now. He lifts a brow, eyes lingering on mine, and nods for me to take the spot next to him.

I hesitate for a moment longer, weighing my options. The last thing I want is to deal with Carol's passive-aggressive glares or whatever Heather might have to say, but there's something in Billy's gaze that pulls me forward. I force myself to walk the rest of the way, sliding into the spot beside him, trying to ignore the way Carol's eyes narrow at me from across the table.

Nicole offers me a small smile, as if to say she's on my side, but it does little to ease the tension, if anything, it only makes my earlier irritation grow. She will never fully take my side for fear of Carol isolating her as well. I keep my head down, poking at the food on my tray, listening to the conversations around me without really engaging. Finally, I decide to just take the library book out of my bag, opening it to the page Dustin had marked with a sticky note.

My walkman stares at me and I pull it from my bag, allowing the music to wash over me, a steady shield between myself and Carol.

Indirana Semipalmata – Brown Leaping Frog.

Indirana semipalmata is a species of frog endemic to the Western Ghats region of southern India. They are small frogs, reaching lengths of about 36 mm (1.4 in) from snout to vent. The species breeds during the monsoons, laying their eggs on moist rocks and tree bark. Their tadpoles are terrestrial – hatching, feeding, and undergoing metamorphosis without ever entering any standing bodies of water.

Terrestrial, like Dart, but that's about it. I swallow, studying the image of the tadpole, trying to find any similarity between Dart and the picture, but there are none. The unease washes back over me as I picture Dart's slimy body, the way he seems to know whenever Dustin and I are talking about him, the rate in which he grows.

"Typical," Carol laughs loudly, forcing me from my thoughts. Heather's shrill laughter joins her and I feel my shoulders stiffen. "I'm sure it's something for, sweet little Dustbin." Carol continues, and I feel my fists clench.

I snap the book shut, ripping my headphones off. Carol lifts a brow, slightly surprised by my reaction, but I can feel the irritation hitting a breaking point and I can't stop the words from flowing, "What's your problem with me?"

"Where do I start?" Carol hisses, leaning forward slightly. Nicole's eyes snap back and forth between us. Heather's mouth drops open. Tommy and Billy stop talking, watching the scene unfold in silence.

"Are you really that miserable with your own vapid existence that you have to take it out on everyone else?" I continue, the knot unraveling with each word. Despite the nerves that gnaw within me, my voice is calm, even.

The table is dead silent now, even Tommy seems caught off guard, his mouth dropping open slightly. For once in his life, he is speechless.

"I was wondering when you'd finally snap," Carol begins, voice rising. "Must have been hard, pretending like you're better than the rest of us."

"Just shut up, Carol," I spit out, feeling the heat rising in my cheeks. It's like the tension of the morning, the worry about Dustin, and the frustration with Dart have all boiled over, but I'm no longer afraid to bite my tongue.

"Excuse me?" Carol's voice drips with venom as she narrows her eyes, leaning back in her chair as if she's been mortally offended. The cafeteria noise around us seems to fade as all eyes at the table turn to me.

I'm about to respond when Billy, who's been watching the exchange with an amused smirk, finally speaks up. "It was pretty clear," he says, his tone laced with humor, enjoying the tension.

The casual way he sides with me catches everyone off guard, especially Carol, whose glare shifts from me to Billy. There's a flicker of something in her eyes – anger, maybe even a hint of embarrassment – but she doesn't get a chance to retort.

Nicole tries "Okay, let's all just chill." she says, her voice a little shaky as she tries to diffuse the situation. "We're all friends."

"No, we're fucking not." I laugh bitterly, standing up, and grabbing my things.

"You're so done," Carol says, leaning forward. Before, this look would have brought me to my knees, begging for forgiveness, sputtering an apology to make it better, but now?

I've been teetering across the tightrope for years, too afraid to lean too far one way and lose the comfort of my place within them, but falling off the tightrope now, I realize that the landing doesn't hurt all that much. My words are the truth – they aren't my friends.

"I'll get over it," I promise, swinging my bag over my shoulder.

I walk away from the table, my heart still racing from the confrontation. The knot of tension that's been coiled in my chest all day begins to unwind, leaving behind a hollowness I wasn't expecting. The cafeteria noise faces into the background as I move through the crowded hallway, but I don't really see anyone. My mind is spinning, replaying the scene over and over, each word echoing louder than the last.

I glance back one, just to see if Nicole is following, because despite my feelings towards Carol, I would miss her. She's not. She's still sitting at the table, caught between Heather and Carol. My mind nags me, reminding me that if she can't stand up for me, then she was never really my friend to begin with.

For a moment, I wonder if I'm making the right choice. If walking away from the safety of the group is really what I want. But then I remember the look on Carol's face, the venom in her voice, and I know I can't go back. I won't go back.

With that thought, I square my shoulders and head for the library, focusing my energy into what's important – my brother and Dart.