Once everyone’s graduated and we’ve thrown our hats into the cloudless sky, Ethan draws me by the hand in the direction of the teachers’ section.
“Ethan,” I say, laughing, “I kind of have plans to see my parents.”
“In a minute,” he replies. He walks up to Pham, and I realize what he’s doing.
The only outstanding grade of our final semester is our final English essay. While Pham reported our overall class grades—A’s, of course—he never released our essay grades. Nobody else cares. Except for us. It’s our very last grade of high school.
“Mr. Pham,” Ethan starts with forceful casualness, “could you just tell us which of us submitted the stronger paper? We don’t even need the point totals.”
Pham exhales sharply. “It’s your graduation day, Mr. Molloy. Can’t you just celebrate?”
“You did read our essays, right?” I narrow my eyes on him. “I wouldn’t want to have to inform Principal Williams you didn’t grade our finals.”
“I read them,” Pham gets out, clearly disgruntled by our undimmed competitiveness.
“Tell us and you’ll never have to talk to us again,” Ethan’s voice is simultaneously sweet and sharp.
Pham considers us. “Mr. Molloy scored a point and a half higher.” Then, taking Ethan up on his offer, Pham walks off immediately.
Ethan faces me. “There. I win the final, most important contest.”
I tap my valedictorian sash. “Agree to disagree.”
He ignores me. “You owe me one final task.”
I say nothing, a little scared. Despite our new relationship, our tasks have remained as undesirable as ever. When I won valedictorian, I made Ethan man the prom ticket booth for three days straight.
“Don’t find a new rival next year.” He’s earnest, even nervous. It dissolves my apprehension. Our relationship might not last. We might grow out of it as we grow into ourselves. I won’t force it to end because high school has, though. I’m holding on to this piece of now proudly, loving it for what it could become and for the confusing, inimitable place it began.
I entwine my hand with his. “Obviously.”
Acknowledgments
On our fourth novel, it only grows more obvious how indebted we are to the many people who every day make our publishing dreams a reality. Honestly, while we do have Alison and Ethan’s overachieving spirit, we never knew if we’d get here. We certainly never expected we would with these characters, who originated in our very first co-written manuscript, which was not very good. We thank our parents and our friends Gabrielle Gold, Catherine Ku, and Yani Lu for diligently reading it regardless.
This, though, brings us to the people who have made this book what it is today. Katie Shea Boutillier, our agent, helped us find the new shape of this story and continues never finding our unlikable heroines unlikable. We remain ridiculously thankful you pulled us out of the slush pile. Dana Leydig, you’re the best editor we could ever wish for. Thank you not only for patiently developing Alison and Ethan’s second life with us, but for being the tiebreaker when your married cowriters have differing opinions. It’s a gift to have worked with you and learned from you for four books now.
We’re immeasurably grateful to the behind-the-scenes queens of #Wibbroka. Tessa Meischeid, your nonstop hard work and genuine love for YA does not go unnoticed. You’re everything we could hope for in a publicist. Felicity Vallence, you give the words “hype machine” new meaning. There are thousands of reasons we Penguin Teen authors love you—foremost, your round-the-clock effort to share our books far and wide and how truly fun it is to work with you.
Really, it’s the people who make Penguin Random House and Viking Children’s a wonderful home for our work. Kristie Radwilowicz, you continue to knock it out of the park with your stunning covers. We know what a compliment it is when readers say the inside of our books measures up to the outside. The Penguin marketing team—James Akinaka, Kara Brammer, Alex Garber, and Shannon Spann—we absolutely adore working with you. We look forward to every Sunday Shoutout, every Rec-a-Reads, and everything else. For copyediting and proofreading—Abigail Powers, Marinda Valenti, Delia Davis, and Kat Keating, we’re continually grateful for your diligence and sharp eyes. We know what a hard job you all have, and you do it surpassingly.
Our friends in the writing community—not even Alison and Dylan’s friendship matches how much we love you, gang. Bridget Morrissey and Aminah Mae Safi, we started this book with you two at Sparrarrow Lodge. We will never forget it. Curse Vibes Only, may we simply know peace and know joy. Maura Milan, sometimes writers just need to vent about video games. Thank you for that, and for being a true friend. Gretchen Schreiber and Alexa DeGennaro, your industry insight is invaluable, and your friendship over years of publishing ups and downs even more so. Bree Barton, Farrah Penn, Britta Lundin, Diya Mishra, and Robyn Schneider, we feel fortunate to know such kind, talented, thoughtful human beings. Rebekah Faubion, you’re the best agent sister ever and a light in our lives. Derek Milman and Brian Murray Williams, Kayla Olson, and Tara Tsai, we remain grateful for your friendship from far-flung parts of the country.
Without our family and friends, we would be nowhere. You fill our lives with everything we try to bring to our writing—joy, humor, love, and compassion—and it means so much to us how much you’ve learned about YA and publishing out of nothing except supportiveness and care.
Finally and most importantly, we would not be writing this fourth “finally” without the readers and booksellers who have sent us messages, posted online, shared a kind word or detailed review, and opened our pages. We write for you, now and ever.
About the Author
Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka are the authors of Always Never Yours and If I'm Being Honest. Raised by a school librarian, Austin's always had a passion for books, especially books for young people. He met and fell in love with Emily in high school, went to Harvard University as an undergraduate, where he studied English (focusing on Shakespeare) and graduated magna cum laude in 2014. Recently, Austin worked as a journalist for The Hollywood Reporter. He is now a lawyer; however, there's nothing he loves like writing with Emily. Emily, whose parents are screenwriters, has loved writing and storytelling since an age she hardly remembers. Since meeting Austin (she says it was middle school--accounts vary), Emily attended Princeton University as an undergraduate, studied psychology, and graduated magna cum laude in 2014. While at Princeton, she wrote the first novel in her self-published YA fantasy trilogy, The Last Oracle, which was featured in USA Today and was a finalist for the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Now married, Emily and Austin live in Los Angeles.