IF IT'S SO WRONG, WHY DOES IT FEEL SO RIGHT?

DRIVE

They burst through the apartment door so fast it slammed against the stopper.

Every head at the party turned.

Finneas and Zoe were on the couch mid-conversation, and Billie's boyfriend was at the counter pouring himself another drink. All three of them froze when they saw Claudia and Billie charging in like they were in the middle of a crisis.

The boyfriend blinked. "...Bill?"

Billie didn't even look at him at first. She was scanning the room like she'd misplaced a life. Her breathing was sharp, panicked.

Her boyfriend stepped forward, concern on his face. "Hey, is that girl okay? The one at the door? She looked—"

Billie finally turned to him.

And her voice was flat. Bone-cold. Exhausted.

"Listen," she said. "This is sudden. And I'm sorry. But we're breaking up."

He stared at her, stunned. "...what?"

Zoe's eyes widened. "Wait. What?"

Billie shrugged — a dead, tired shrug. "Yeah. I never really had feelings for you."

Her boyfriend scoffed in disbelief. "What the hell are you talking ab—"

"Oh please," Zoe cut in, rolling her eyes and tossing her drink onto the coffee table. "Don't act brand new. As if you weren't cheating on her with your high school sweetheart."

Billie's head whipped toward Zoe. "He was what—?!"

Her boyfriend looked genuinely offended. "Zoe, shut the—why would you even say that?!"

Zoe blinked. Confused. "Because it's true?"

Billie stared at him, betrayal flashing hot and sharp. "You were cheating on me?"

He threw his hands up. "Okay, who the fuck told—"

"That makes two of us, then," Billie muttered under her breath, mostly to herself.

Zoe's jaw dropped. "Huh?! Wait—Billie, what—?"

But Billie didn't have time for any of that.

She was already grabbing her jacket.

Her ex rubbed his forehead. "Well... shit. I was gonna go see her after the party anyway, but I'll just go now."

Billie nodded once, deadpan. "Cool."

"I'll come grab my stuff tomorrow."

"Great. Door's open."

He slipped out, stunned and mumbling. Zoe was still frozen, the puzzle pieces not quite fitting together yet.

"What the fuck is going on?" Finneas demanded, standing up.

Claudia was already heading for the door. "We're going to find my sister."

Finneas almost choked. "Your—what? Nala? She's here?!"

Zoe blinked at Claudia. "You have a sister?!"

Claudia didn't stop walking. "Long story. Very long. We don't have time."

Billie grabbed her keys. "Zoe, drive Finn home."

Finneas shook his head. "No—no way, I'm coming—"