Smallara

Hayden was mid laugh, still riding her own “expired lip gloss” joke, when Dayton’s phone started buzzing like it was possessed.  Not a text buzz. Not a polite little brrp. A full on, vibrating in her pocket, someone is FaceTiming you right now insistence. …

Dayton kept Mr. Rhys in her hand as they walked, her palm cupped like she was carrying something breakable she refused to admit was breakable. Her fingers formed a loose…

Dayton felt the weight of Ezra in her hands as she  picked her stuff up in math class. The chatter and excitement from the SEA raid was still fresh in the teachers and students minds. While the…

By the time Dayton turned the corner toward the math wing, the building felt like it was trying to pretend nothing had happened.  The SEA armor and rifles were mostly…

By the time they turned the corner toward Dayton’s locker, the SEA presence had thinned out a little. The SEA officer behind them finally turned going down a side hallway. There were still uniforms…

The sky over Roosevelt Middle School was that washed out winter blue that looked fake in photos. Breath steamed in little clouds from kids’ mouths as they clogged the sidewalk, jackets open because nobody believed in…