When Ash Rains Down

Chapter Seven

A mass of students stream out and cover the front lawn of the school. The siren of a fire truck blares down the street.

"Not cool, Stevens." I slap him on the butt. "Put me down."

"What's the magic word?" he asks.

"Please."

"Not that one."

I slap him again.

"That's not it either, princess."

I growl.

"Fun. The magic word is fun. I want you to tell me how much fun you're having."

"But I'm not. This is not my idea of fun. This is so the opposite of fun. You are humiliating me."

Why is everyone so worried about whether or not I'm having fun?

He puts me down, no dimple in sight. His blue eyes are somber and serious. "Hey," he whispers, nudging me with his shoulder. "I thought it'd be fun for the royalty to entertain the crowd. Like I said, harmless prank."

"You wouldn't actually set a fire to show your power of crowd control, would you?"

His eyes widen in horrified shock that looks sincere. "That wouldn't actually be harmless, would it?" There's something behind his words, something chilling, but his dimple returns and his eyes look like a sassy puppy's, checking to be sure he's still loved and adored.

Everyone is laughing and elbowing him and bowing around us like we're actual royalty, only I feel more like the court jester. My entire lunch hour is being eaten up, and I have no idea how I'm going to get through my checklist of things to do for the day before the stroke of midnight.

"So, what can I do to convince you fun is actually fun? That it's worth your time?"

I shrug. "No idea."

He takes my limp hand, shakes it, and announces, "It's a deal, then. I will do whatever it takes to help you discover fun this week. Or as long as it takes."

"I'm not sure it can be a deal if it's only one-sided."

"We shook."

"Um. You shook. I wasn't an active participant."

"Well, I'm committed enough for the both of us."

"Mmkay. Well, I'm still mad at you, so...." I turn my back on him to scan the crowd for Mitch. We are supposed to be separated out into homeroom groups for attendance—although Cole is not in my homeroom, but he seems to make his own rules. Mitch and I, however, met in homeroom freshman year, so he should be nearby. I need to take a break from Cole. He's a distraction I don't need. I don't need anything else to keep me from meeting my goals.

I don't spot my white-haired friend, but I do see Mrs. Wiltrow. I so want to get to her during lunch hour. Maybe I still have a chance to accomplish something before we're let back in and the bell rings for sixth period class.

I throw my hand up and try to call out for her, but the crowd is too much. Cole is still causing a raucous, and his fan base around us is not letting up. I start to elbow my way through the crowd toward her, but Cole pulls me back.

"Don't leave, princess. Please don't be mad."

"Seriously, Cole." I rise up on my tiptoes and see Mrs. Wiltrow is looking our way, because wherever Cole is, there's a commotion. Maybe his behavior will work in my favor. Yes, she's making her way over to us.

"What's going on over here?" She scans our faces. "Oh, Mr. Stevens." She smiles at him. "Is everything all right?"

"Yes, fine. Is the school going to be okay?" Oh, my gosh. How he can play the perfect, concerned student.