Five Total Strangers

Mira follows Kayla to the bathroom under the pretense of checking on her. Kayla accuses Mira of avoiding her and of having secrets that are as bad as Kayla’s own drug addiction. Kayla says to Mira, “You’re all too messed up to even know how to watch your own backs” (199). Kayla also worries about contact with the police because she knows they tend to go after weaker targets. Mira asks about Kayla’s medical alert bracelet and learns it belonged to her deceased younger brother. At the end of their conversation, Kayla apologizes for reasons Mira doesn’t understand.

After Kayla leaves the bathroom, Mira wonders if she apologized because she stole everyone’s things. Harper comes into the bathroom, clearly upset. Mira offers to talk to her, but she refuses. Mira leaves the bathroom and joins Josh, who tells her Harper called the police again and learned Corey and his father have been taken to the hospital; however, the police are distracted by the closure of I-80 and won’t have time to see them anytime soon. Mira suggests they ask Joyce to keep the bar open longer.