Coriolanus was at another one of her shows.

Lucy Gray caught him out of the corner of her eye as she strummed her guitar, caught off-guard for a second.

He was sitting in the middle of the way; not far in the back so that she'd possibly miss him, but not up front where her favorite drunks took residence.

The guitar almost slipped through her fingers.

Coriolanus grinned.

Lucy Gray waited for someone in the Covey to say something; Coriolanus was here without any of his friends tonight. It had been strange enough when a whole horde of those Academy kids had stumbled in here (though very profitable for the owners of the Hob), but just one here was downright strange.

Not even his friend, the one with the big grin and trusting eyes, was by him.

You know his name is Sejanus…

Lucy Gray shook away her thoughts, determined not to be unwoven by his presence.

The set was okay. It wasn't her best, nor her worst. She'd play far more disastrous gigs before.

She hated the truth of it, but Coriolanus being here again and watching her so carefully got underneath her skin.

Lucy Gray packed her guitar quickly, intending to make a quick exit. It wasn't that she didn't want to talk to him again. She'd enjoyed their tete-a-tete the last time. But some part of her knew that if she lingered, he'd draw her in again…

Coriolanus was already waiting for her outside.

"Couldn't stay away, could you?" She purred, setting her guitar case down, "Darlin', you could have just called if you wanted to see me."

Coriolanus licked his lip, and Lucy Gray felt her cheeks flush. Her pulse quickened as she focused on anything but his mouth, shoving her hands in her jacket pockets before they did something without her knowledge, like grab his lapels and pull him down for a kiss.

"You're late, Lucy Gray."

Lucy Gray blinked, frowning.

"What?" She asked, shaking her head. Late for what? To meet him? A bit arrogant, to assume she would be obligated to grace him with her presence again.

"You're going to be late!" His voice was more insistent now. Lucy Gray felt the moment slipping away from her, like Dali's photo of time oozing off a counter. Coriolanus reached forward to touch her shoulder, but the moment she did, Lucy Gray was in her bedroom.

"You didn't set your alarm, and you're going to be late!"

Lucy Gray picked up her pillow and threw it at Wash.

"Get out of here!" She groaned, furious and embarrassed. She'd dreamed of him.

Again.

At least this one was tame. The others had been downright sinful, but nothing quite as naughty as the night itself with Coriolanus Snow. It was a pale imitation, a whisper of how good he'd felt inside of her, and she'd been chasing that high since.

Willie Ash Baird leaned against the threshold of her bedroom. She was currently sharing it with her cousin Mauve Ivory, but more often than not, Mauve Ivory ended up in her aunt's bed.

"I'm leavin' in ten minutes," Wash warned, "And you'll have to walk if you're not ready!"

Lucy Gray got up, rubbing her eyes tiredly as she grabbed a semi-acceptable outfit off the ground. These days, the dream of Coriolanus made her more tired than when she went to sleep.

Wash was already in the car, so Lucy Gray barely had time to wave goodbye to her cousins, breezing past the cramped dining room space where the whole Baird clan was enjoying breakfast, nabbing a waffle on her way out.

Wash rolled his eyes as she took her place in the passenger seat.

Willie Ash - who was nicknamed 'Wash' in kindergarten when a teacher wrote ' ' on all his things and he erroneously assumed that was what his name was meant to be - used to be close with Lucy Gray. But when her parents opted to send their precocious youngest daughter to school early instead of waiting a whole other year, Wash was already displeased. He didn't like that some of their friends overlapped, Lucy Gray always being mature and connecting with people in Wash's grade. And he certainly didn't like that she scored out of her 8th-grade year and joined him as a freshman.

In some ways, Lucy Gray understood. It must feel strange to have your almost-seventeen-year-old sister be smart enough to meet you at your grade. Or it must make you feel very dumb.

Either way, Wash was eager to graduate, mostly to go to a elsewhere that had never heard of his 'bright and talented younger sister'.

They didn't have the money for college.

Lucy Gray was pretty sure he was headed to the army, but he didn't share things like that with her anymore.

Wash turned on the radio, but all that they were talking about was Strabo Plinth's stupid comment about the Districts.

Lucy Gray, who had read up on Coriolanus and all his classmates, couldn't believe that Sejanus was related to that man. Yes, she'd never met Sejanus in person, but from his Instagram, he seemed genuine in a way most rich folk weren't. But then again, it could all just be a well-crafted illusion, much in the same way Coriolanus' Instagram was.

She would probably laugh at it if she wasn't so goddamn attracted to him for some unknown and inconceivable reason.

Wash groaned, turning it off, "Who the fuck cares?" He muttered, "Big surprise. The rich hate the poor. This is newsworthy?"

"I think it's because he came from the Districts," Lucy Gray offered.

"Look, if I make a bajillion dollars one day, I'm also not going to be looking back on this hellhole fondly," Wash argued, running his fingers through his curly dark hair, "Just saying."

"I'm sure we'll get a couple thousand or so out of it," Lucy Gray mused with a tinge of amusement, "Maybe a new gymnasium named after him."

"The Districts will. We'll never see a cent of that." Wash liked to argue with everything she said. At the very least, it gave her good practice for the verbal tennis match she had with Coriolanus.

They sat the rest of the way in silence.

The District 12 parking is as far away as a parking lot could be. Though it wasn't said out loud, certain District wings got more time and money than others. It made sense, in a really fucked-up way. If each District theoretically was meant to foster a particular skill, more people with donatable cash back into their former hovels came from certain Districts than others.

Like District 2 tended to mold athletes. One of them even got signed to an NFL team recently. If he had any sense of fond memories from his teenage years, no doubt in a decade or so, he'd come back and shower good graces.

District 12 wasn't really known for anything. It was sort of an in-between place. But it ended up just being the dumping ground for students that the administration didn't want to deal with, new kids, or the unmotivated.

Wash immediately peeled away from his sister as soon as he could, waving to his friends.

Lucy Gray hadn't made the warm acquaintance of anyone much, not yet. In fact, the most significant relationship she'd forged was with Coriolanus Snow, an Academy rogue. If anyone knew that, they'd eat her alive.

Bill Taupe didn't count. She knew him from the old days. Childhood friends. He was meant to be a rekindled relationship. He was meant to be something, but he'd gone and cheated on her.

Fucking jackass.

At the bell ringing, they were pointed toward the central area of the school, instead of to their homerooms like usual. They only went to the 'City Center' of their Districts if something big was going on, and Lucy Gray would bet you ten bucks (the most she had in her wallet right now) that it had something to do with Strabo Plinth.

Lucy Gray sat on one of the uncomfortable and worn benches. A few years back, some genius had the bright idea to make the 'City Centers' resemble an outdoor park, no matter that they were very much inside. But it did provide a hint of humor to see students lounging on fake park benches, on turf grass, or dangling like monkeys off some recess equipment that was used when it was too snowy to go outside. It probably looked nice and new once. Now, it was just dingy and old, like everything at the Districts.

On a screen in front, Strabo was in the auditorium, which could only hold one District worth of students, so it was always District 1, the most 'impressive' district. She saw a few students from other Districts there, but no one from 12.

Shocker.

Lucy Gray took out her phone, biting back a yawn of boredom, and started to scroll idly through her notifications. Her rush in the morning had meant she didn't have the usual time she had to promote her socials. She had a slew of notifications, and she flipped by them, half paying attention, just to vanish the little red bubbles at the top right of her apps.

Coriolanus Snow has fo-

Lucy Gray frantically started scrolling back through, piqued on something that she was almost sure she had misread.

"Ms. Baird, phone."

Lucy Gray looked up to see Vice Principal Lipp standing in front of her, hand out.

"But-," Lucy Gray began to argue, frustrated.

"Viewing is mandatory," He said, jerking his head to the screen.

"Other people have phones out."

"Worry about yourself, Ms. Baird," Lipp said cooly, making a 'give it here' motion with his hand, "You can get it back at the end of the day."

Lucy Gray bit back her anger.

She hated Vice Principal Lipp. Unfortunately, he could make her life a living hell.

Let's be for real, he already did.

Behind her, Lucy Gray heard a snigger. His daughter, Mayfair (what a stupid name), with her stupid red hair and stupid fake Lululemons, was not hiding her joy well. Lucy Gray thought that if she had any pull, she'd put her kid in a better District, but the Lipps weren't smart people, at least, that's what she'd come to decide.

Worse, Mayfair was just a troublemaker. Managed to seduce Lucy Gray's ex away from her just because she wanted to. Lucy Gray didn't think for a second that Mayfair was in love with Billy Taupe.

But Bily Taupe sat there, arms over her shoulder, looking anywhere but Lucy Gray.

Fucking traitor.

"I will not ask again."

Lucy Gray furiously slapped her phone into Lipp's hand.

Just as she thought, Lipp strolled past five other students on their phones without so much as a second glance, dropping Lucy Gray's phone into his pocket.

It didn't matter that this was clear targeting. Any complaints out of District 12 were shuffled to a special complaint box…a trash can.

Sinking into her chair, Lucy Gray turned toward the screen.

She had missed the first part. Probably Strabo waxing poetics about his time here, maybe a few handshakes with some spectacular students.

Move it along, just announce the money… Lucy Gray would actually rather be in class than sit through this pitiful attempt of an apology that everyone knew was absolute bogus horseshit.

"To prove my extreme and sincere apology to you, Plinith Inc. is generously giving the Districts $500,000 to upgrade your facilities and embolden your youth-,"

Ah, there it is. Everyone clap. Yes. Now. Let's go.

Maybe they'd get a music room or something. That would be acceptable to Lucy Gray. But even if they did, it wouldn't be in her district, and she'd never be able to sign up for time in it, so it didn't matter.

"And, to make a point that the only thing separating the bright young minds from the Academy and the Districts is the means of accessibility, I am personally sponsoring 24, every year from here on out, of the brightest District minds and providing these students a full, complete, and continual scholarship to The Academy and any college of their choosing!"

Lucy Gray nearly slipped off her chair, shooting straight up.

Oh… that's unexpected.

Immediately, Lucy Gray was filled with fantasies.

She didn't really care about the Academy, but she cared about a full-ride scholarship.

Lucy Gray… you could go anywhere!

Excitement was now buzzing through the District 12 students. Anyone who had thought about college at all, and then probably promptly realized their parents were poor, wanted it. Wanted more.

Kids here were always hungry.

Across the way, like they were young again, Lucy Gray met Wash's nervously hopeful gaze. When he'd been young and unburdened, he'd dreamed of going to UCLA, out where it was sunny and far away. She wasn't thinking that Wash was never going to get this with his grades, but goddamn, Wash could sure as shit take anything apart and put it back together. He was the marvel of his auto shop class. A mind like that was clever, just not in the ways that reflected on grades.

Shit, maybe we both have a chance!

After that, there was no getting the news back in the bag. Students were up, eager, yelling over each other.

The admin, realizing that this bomb was going to be trouble, swiftly sent the students back to their classes.

They weren't told anything else all day.

Finally, in the last period, there was more news to be said.

Teachers would submit applications for students they thought were worthy of the scholarship. A team at the Academy would vet them. Students would be starting as early as next week, with a quick turnaround.

Everything would be provided for them.

Everything.

The spirits were the highest that the Districts had probably seen in the entire history of its opening. Everyone was dreaming they'd be picked, no matter the truth that most wouldn't. It was going to be a really shitty Monday when most of 'em were still here.

Lucy Gray really had no idea who would be submitted or who would even be picked. The Academy ilk were weird. She couldn't possibly muster a guess who would be thought to be worthy enough of such an honor.

Wash was the most child-like that she'd ever seen him, blabbering to their Mama and Papa about what he'd do when he was picked, spending his nights scrolling through UCLA's mechanical engineering program. He couldn't be stopped, shoving his phone in Lucy Gray's face to show her students' 'Day in the Life' vlogs.

"You can come with me," He said, "People'll love you out there. Anyone can be a singer in Los Angeles, Luce," He promised. It was also the most genuine he'd been to her since she'd skipped a grade.

And for a brief second, god, Lucy Gray wanted Wash to get it. More than she wanted to get it, she wanted it to go to Wash.

But let's be honest, neither of them was going to be the one. Kids like them didn't get luck like this.

Lucy Gray was told, via email, that her name had been submitted for an application on Wednesday.

She killed her hopes early on.

Lucy Gray may be a dreamer, but she wasn't stupid.

Her own phone was still locked in Lipp's desk. She'd gone to get it Monday after school but he'd been 'out of the office' and the damned secretary wouldn't give it to her.

The rest of the week, teachers were bombarded with students begging for their names to be put in. Lucy Gray hung back. Either a teacher would or wouldn't.

She also didn't get her phone returned to her…every time she went to attempt to get it back, Lipp was mysteriously gone.

All she could think about, in between everything else, was that she had to have made up the fact that Coriolanus had followed her, right?

He hadn't so much as offered her a note since their backstage fun. And she was a lady…ladies didn't do the chasing, that was what boys were meant to do. So if he was interested, he could reach out to her first.

But as the days had worn on, Lucy Gray couldn't lie and say she wasn't tempted to wave the white flag first. The only thing keeping her from all that was the little voice whispering… to what end?

It was her uncertainty that kept her strong.

But if he had reached out first…if he had followed her…

Well, that would be enough for her to send a message.

If she could just get to her damn phone. Luckily, the whole hubbub about this was a perfect cover for her acting out of sorts.

Lucy Gray kept her head down about the whole affair, listening to the excitement that rippled through the community. Wash was in such a mood that he actually acknowledged her these days, proudly looping an arm around her shoulder. She didn't need his social help, but she was still the baby of the family, always desperate for their approval.

"And Lucy Gray'll get jobs at a coffee shop and she'll sing on the weekends and between us, we'll be fine for a two-bedroom if it's all on Mr. Strabo's money, you know-," Wash was prattling on to his friends as they strolled through the Park, looking for a place to drop their lunch plates.

"You?" A shriek broke through Wash's dreams. Lucy Gray spun to see Mayfair lounging over a bench, enough space for their entire group, clinging to Billy Taupe's arm like it was a lifeline.

"Keep movin', Wille Ash," Lucy Gray muttered, trying to push him forward. But Wash looked at Billy Taupe, his face twisting furiously. His nose flared.

Lucy Gray wasn't the only one hurt by Billy Taupe's new popularity.

"Got something to say, Will?" Billy Taupe asked cruelly, egging him on.

"No, man. I got nothin' to say to you," Wash sneered, "And when I get picked, you'll be left exactly here, gettin' exactly what you deserve," He spat, "And who knows? Maybe Luce'll get it too," He said, pulling Lucy Gray close to him.

"Wash-," Lucy Gray started to bite out, hating to be pulled into this, but Mayfair jumped up to stop her exit.

"You?" Mayfair grasped her chest like what Wash had said was the funniest damned thing, "You get the scholarship? Oh, be so for real, you little shit. I'm getting it, clearly," She said, fluffing her hair, "Daddy'll make sure that my name is picked."

"That's not how that works," Lucy Gray said evenly.

"You think they're picking people based on actual ability? No, it's all about who you know. I at least have that. You have less than nothing." Mayfair said disparagingly.

"I guess we'll find out soon, huh?" Lucy Gray said, trying not to punch Mayfair, though that's all she really wanted, "Monday."

Mayfair settled back into Billy Taupe's arms, "Monday," She said, "Though I'll be long gone by then."

"I can't stand her! I don't get what Billy Taupe sees in her. Wash was gagging like her perfume caused him actual distress, when they had found somewhere to eat.

"She's probably right, though," Lucy Gray said, shrugging, "What? Just being realistic about it. Nepotism is alive and well even here."

"She won't," Wash said, face pale.

"Even if she does, you could still get it."

"And have to play nice with her ?" Wash sputtered, "That's hell, Luce."

On Friday before the last bell, Lucy Gray tried once more to get her phone, but Lipp was out 'preparing his celebration', and it seemed that Mayfair might be right after all.

"How is that fair?" Lucy Gray demanded to a mild-mannered office attendant, "That a girl like Mayfair gets everything? How is that fair?"

She held back hot tears, furious.

"I'm sorry, darlin'," The attendant said, but made no motion to settle her one way or another, "Vice President Lipp has quite a lot of…pull."

"And you're just okay with corruption?"

"Dearie, you ought to get home," The office lady said kindly, shooing her out.

"But my phone-,"

"Will be safe until Monday."

Lucy Gray went home, slammed her door, and didn't come out all night.

She was woken up by her mother pounding on her bedroom door.

"Lucy Gray Barid, you make yourself presentable right now, young lady! And get out here!"

She fished for her phone before remembering that it was still confiscated. She found Maude Ivory's iPad and saw that it was barely six A.M. She must have pissed her Mama off real bad to be woke before the crack of dawn…Lucy Gray ran through possible offences but was at a complete loss.

Shit.

Lucy Gray couldn't imagine what she'd done to irk her mother, but she dragged herself out of bed. She pulled on a wildly colorful pair of jeans, trying to liken herself to colorful, poisonous amphibians.

Don't come near me, I'm lethal!

She stumbled into the living room to find…

"Holy fuck."

Lucy Gray immediately slapped her hand over her mouth while her mother, behind the imposing figure, looked like she wanted to skin Lucy Gray's hide.

"Sorry, Mr. Plinth."

What the hell was he doing in their house?

"You must be Lucy Gray. Skipped a grade; that's no small feat. And, quite an impressive self-made musician. And I hear you do all your own marketing and are your own agent?"

Lucy Gray managed a stuttered nod. Then.

"You've… listened to my music?" She squeaked, not sure if she ought to be horrified or impressed.

"Naturally."

"Mr. Plinth is here with some very good news," Barb Azure swooped in, patting Lucy Gray's cheeks.

The pieces felt like they were falling together, but at the same time…it didn't make any sense. It was too early, and why not Mayfair? Or was he here for Ash? But…but…but…

"Miss Baird, the Academy would be very honored to extend an invitation for you to finish your last year with them."

He handed her a creamy cardstock. Lucy Gray took it in her hands, feeling like one of Willy Wonka's kids holding that golden ticket, unable to even breathe.

"But-,"

"We did not anticipate the…eagerness, so it was decided for your safety to review the submissions early. If you accept, you'll start on Monday."

"Of course she will!" Mama said from the corner, giving Lucy Gray a 'if you say no, you're done for, little lady!'. Not that Lucy Gray would say no…

She wasn't dumb.

"I…yes," Lucy Gray nodded, jerkily, "But I just thought…I was under the assumption…Mayfair Lipp seemed so sure ."

"The admissions team looked through all the applications carefully and has picked the best candidates. No one was sure until 3 am this morning, when the announcements went out," Mr. Plinth said smoothly.

"Did Wash get it too?" Lucy Gray said hopefully, looking around, but Wash was gone.

Her Mama's face fell.

"Just you," She whispered, trying to force a smile.

Wash is gunna be a tornado, God.

"Oh, well, can I know who the other District 12 scholarship student is?" Lucy Gray whispered.

"For safety, we cannot divulge right now."

It may seem dramatic, but Lucy Gray had no doubt that people would kill, literally, to get their kids ahead.

"That's fine," Lucy Gray said, swallowing, still a bit…mystified.

"Perfect. You'll be picked up tomorrow at 9 pm and taken to The Academy. Pack for the rest of the semester. You'll be able to return home on weekends and holidays, if you so choose. And someone can pick up your things from The District, though, you'll get new supplies and books."

"Oh, good," Lucy Gray said with a tinge of snark, "So someone'll pick up my phone?"

"Your…phone?" Mr. Plinth blinked.

"Yes, my phone," Lucy Gray responded, "Vice President Lipp has had it all week and has refused to give it back."

Strabo's eyes darkened, " Lipp , you say?"

"Mhh-hmm. He's had it out for me, you see. Don't know why. I think I threaten the intelligence of his daughter, Mayfair," Lucy Gray said. She had no problem burning bridges: "Anyway, he's had my phone since Monday and is 'gone' every time I go to collect it."

"Why didn't you say somethin', darling?" Mama asked, horrified.

Lucy Gray turned, giving a dry shrug, "What really coulda have been done? That's just how it is."

"Well, that will certainly be rectified immediately," Strabo said tartly, "Come with me. I'll have someone take you now."

"Thank you, sir," Lucy Gray said, making her eyes wide and innocent.

Strabo called a limo (a fucking limo!) just to ferry her to the school. She was let in by a different VP, District 10's, she thought, but she wasn't sure. The Vice Principal congratulated Lucy Gray.

"Can you unlock my phone? It's just in his desk drawer," Lucy Gray asked, "Sorry to bother you, sir."

"Oh, not at all! Just wait out here."

Lucy Gray sat in the completely empty Park. It was eerie without the bustling students.

She wandered around. She walked past the 5th-grade room, where the too-eager teacher had a whole host of student pets. Whoever had fed them today had left the door unlocked.

Lucy Gray walked right up to the snake, petting it, cooing. She'd always liked 'em, able to grab them out of the grass as easily as picking up a cat. The snake curled on her fist.

"We'll have some fun, won't we?" Lucy Gray whispered, kissing its head.

The Vice Principal was still digging through Lipp's desk. Lucy Gray went to Mayfair's locker.

Now, one may argue that she already had it all.

But Mayfair was someone Lucy Gray hated with every fiber of her being. And winning wasn't enough. It was the months she'd spent bullied, it was Billy Taupe going to the 'dark side', it was Lipp making her life a living hell…

The locks on the lockers didn't work anyway.

Lucy Gray slipped the snake into Mayfair's makeup bag, unzipping enough so that the little guy had air. She closed Mayfair's locker.

Monday would be hilarious .

"Miss Baird?"

Lucy Gray spun.

"Yes?"

"Is this it?"

"Ah, yes, that's it!" Lucy Gray bounded up to it. It was dead, no shocker there. Strabo's guy was still waiting in the limo for her. Arms full of a few things, she was taken home.

Wash was still gone.

"Oh, he'll come around," Mama said, but that seemed unlikely.

Lucy Gray plugged her phone in and spent the next few hours trying to figure out how to pack her whole life in just a few suitcases.

Around 10 am, her phone blinked back to life.

As expected, she had a million and one notifications, but there was only one she was interested in.

She went to Instagram and found Coriolanus' easily.

It was true: Coriolanus was now following her.

Feeling her heart thud fast, in a weird way, different than before.

Girl, you're going to go to school with him!

The realization, something she hadn't thought about properly in the entire week leading up to this, was like a shock through her veins. She dropped her phone on her bed, her breath increasing.

Then, she pulled together her courage.

She followed him back and went one step farther; she sent a message.

Guess I'll be seeing you Monday, Handsome.