"Well they didn't try to murder me," Noah says dryly, reaching around Adam's back to lightly shove Ronan's shoulder.

"I had other friends, I swear. I wasn't comparing you guys to...him." There is no comparison when it comes to Whelk. But Noah had friends on the swim team, and skateboarding friends, and stoner friends. He did okay at Aglionby. He'd been closest with Whelk, but not nearly as much as he is with Ronan, Adam, Blue, and Gansey.

The gelato parlor is right up ahead of them, and Noah quickens his steps, dragging Adam with his arm still around him.