Chapter 4

For the next several days my mother and I practically lived at the agency, handling the airline, the hotels, and every ticket across Aurelia ourselves.

Booking admissions for forty-odd people ate two full days on its own.

On the third day Hannah came in with the signed forms and the money.

The full $1,299 a head, paid up front. My mother and I couldn't stop grinning.

Departure was set for the following month, which happened to be the same day Bianca's group was leaving.

Once the contracts were signed I went home and slept like the dead.

Departure day came fast. I had nothing else going on, so I decided to head to the airport and see Hannah's class off.

I opened my front door and found several people I hadn't invited standing on my porch.

"What are you doing at my house?"

I looked past Mason at Bianca, my guard all the way up.

They were supposed to be flying out that morning. Why were the two of them on my doorstep with half a dozen classmates?

Bianca stepped up and took my hand like we were close.

"Riley, we came to invite you to Aurelia with us. You're part of this class. It isn't the same without you."

I pulled my hand back. I didn't bother hiding my disgust.

"Do none of you understand the word no? I told you, I'm not going."

She backed off a step, wounded. "I know you're holding a grudge because the class went with another agency, but I was thinking of everyone else.

"So to make it up to you, we went ahead and registered you without telling you."

I stood there while cold sweat crawled down my back. It took me several seconds to understand what she'd said.

"That's not possible. You need a passport and travel authorization to leave the country. How could you register me?"

Mason answered, pleased with himself. "You handed me your passport on that trip our families took. I took a picture of the ID page.

"Don't thank me, thank Bianca. The surprise was her idea."

I gripped the door handle so hard my knuckles ached, rage climbing up my throat.

"Come on, Riley, quit being ungrateful. It's a free trip to Aurelia."

"Bianca handed you something people would kill for. Stop making a scene."

The rest of them started talking over each other.

Bianca's gift looked generous from the outside. That didn't mean I had to take it.

"I said no. Get off my porch before you miss your flight."

Every face in front of me darkened at once.

Mason came toward me one step at a time. "We drove all the way out here to pick you up, and you're still acting like we owe you something.

"Whether you're coming isn't up to you."

He flicked a hand and several of them grabbed me and started dragging me toward the street.

My parents had left for the agency at dawn. There was nobody in the house.

I fought them while my mind raced.

"Let go of me. Fine, I'll go. Just let go."

The hands on me loosened. Mason narrowed his eyes. "What are you trying to pull?"

"With all of you standing right here? I need my passport."

He followed me inside and didn't take his eyes off me for a second, so I couldn't try anything.

I picked up the passport and left with them.

In the car I quietly slid a hand into the pocket I'd put it in.

The airport was packed with summer travelers and freshly graduated seniors.

"There she is. Riley, the whole class has been waiting on you."

Our classmates spotted us from across the terminal and swarmed over.

I made myself smile while my eyes swept the terminal for a way out.

"Save it. Get to the counter and check in, we're running out of time."

The whole crowd swept toward the airline desks. When my turn came, the agent handed my passport back.

"I'm sorry, but this document isn't valid. I can't check you in."