Trouble Outside Building Four

Sophie put on a cardigan and headed down the stairs to the ground-floor courtyard, pausing when she saw the rose-gold commuter bicycle locked to the railing.

Looking at the bike brought everything from yesterday back into focus... Jude stepping in at the school gates, handling the trouble at the market, buying the bicycle, and asking her to step in as his girlfriend.

Now her parents were pulling her registration to finalize the arrangement, cutting her off from the Conservatory entirely.

She wiped her eyes, unlocked the courtyard door, and walked toward South Street.

Up on the 4th floor, the moment the gate clicked shut below, Leo pushed the quilt aside and swung his legs off the bed.

Holding onto the wall for balance, the 14-year-old made his way out to the landing, looked up the narrow stairs toward the 6th-floor roof access, and started climbing one step at a time.