THOSE WITH THE SAME ELEMENTS (FIRE, EARTH, AIR,
OR WATER) ARE SAID TO BE TRINED (CONNECTED) AND
USUALLY RELATE WELL AND OFTEN INSTANTLY TO
EACH OTHER. BUT YOUR CLOSE FRIENDS DO NOT HAVE
TO BE TRINED. A PASSIONATE FIRE CAN APPRECIATE
THE DETERMINATION OF AN EARTH SIGN, THE
COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF AN AIR SIGN, AND THE
EMOTIONS OF A WATER SIGN.

—Fearless Astrology

Had I really seen what I thought I had last night? Were Alex and Arianna together? Poor Chili. No way could I begin to discuss it with her. Arianna and I were trined because she the Gemini, and I the Aquarius, were both Air signs. And although I did feel sorry for her, I couldn’t trust her now that I knew she lied about knowing Alex.

It was the middle of the night by the time I got home. I managed to sneak in without waking my dad and was so exhausted that I didn’t know how I would wake up in time for class. I did it, though. When Chili and Paige picked me up that morning, they were both still excited about our trip.

“I got a text from Alex,” Chili said. “I’m going to bring him some of my mom’s recipes when we drive you up on Friday. Can you believe this is happening?”

I could believe it, all right, and I was already blaming myself. “What does Stella say?” I asked.

“Just the usual Armenian mom stuff. That even though my dad’s older than she is, there’s no way she would allow me to date a twenty-one-year-old guy, no matter how famous he is. That kind of stuff.”

“It sounds pretty sensible to me,” I said.

“Since when are you sensible?” Both she and Paige laughed, but I couldn’t.

“What happened with that elevator was pretty scary. A lot of people knew that Alex would be in it.”

“You don’t think it was an accident?” Chili asked.

“I’m not sure. I’m just saying ...”

“Well if anyone messed with the elevator, it was Francis, the head chef. Can you believe that old guy?”

“He was probably just upset because he had to turn over his kitchen to a celebrity chef who hasn’t paid his dues,” I said.

She stared straight ahead as if trying to make eye contact with the road. “You don’t sound very happy for me, Logan.”

“I’m just worried, that’s all.”

“We were worried about Jeremy,” Paige piped up from the back. “But we supported you, even though we knew the relationship didn’t have much of a chance.” The words came out so easily, as if Jeremy and I were already over and done.

My eyes burned. “You’re right, Paige,” I said. “All this magazine stuff is making me crazy. I do think something is going to happen at the Halloween launch party, and Alex might be involved.”

“How can you be so sure?” Chili asked.

I couldn’t tell her that I had seen him go into Arianna’s hotel room right after I left. At least not now when Chili was so determined that he was the guy of her dreams. “I told you. Because of what happened on the elevator.”

“Can’t you check his chart?”

“I’m going to, but I can’t find the year he was born.”

“I told you he’s twenty-one.” Chili turned to me looking like her old mischievous self. “I can find out everything else for you when we go there Friday.”

“How are you going to get out of school?” I asked.

“Head cold,” Chili said, and faked a cough.

“Cramps,” Paige whined.

I had to smile. They had already figured it out. “On a Friday?” I asked. “All three of us? That’s pretty suspicious.”

“What are they going to do?” Chili said, “Demand that we take a lie detector test? I’ve got to go there because I have a plan. I’m going to be so cute, hot, and interested in everything that he invites me to be his date for the launch party. What do you think?”

What did I think? That she was absolutely out of her mind. “If anyone can do it, you will.”

“And I’m designing their costumes,” Paige said. “Chili will be Catwoman, and Alex will be Batman.”

“And you,” Chili said, “are going to be Sherlock Holmes. But don’t worry. It’s a very sexy design, and super short to show off your great legs. I saw Paige’s sketches.”

Sherlock Holmes? Not a famous writer. Still, I kind of liked it. “What are you going to be, Paige?” I asked.

She shrugged. “I don’t know, but it’s got to be good to impress the Platinum Dragon. If I could only grow a body like Chili’s.”

“You don’t need a body like anyone’s,” I said. “You look great, and you have the talent. But tell me, why am I only now hearing about these costumes you two have been planning for us?”

“Well.” Chili glanced back at Paige. “We weren’t sure how you would react to my mission of getting Alex to take me to the party. Come on, Logan, he is so fabulous. Please be happy for me.”

As we pulled into the parking lot, I remembered how I felt when Jeremy had kissed me for the first time. How I felt that last day he said he loved me. Sure, the odds were against us, but no one could have told me that at the time.

I climbed out of the car, hugged her, and said, “I am happy for you. And, just for the record, Alex doesn’t stand a chance against a hot Gemini.”

“Hi, Chili. Hi Paige. Hiiii, Logan.” Dina came toward us in the parking lot, still wearing her new flat hairstyle.

“Hi,” I said, just so she wouldn’t start telling kids I was snotty.

“So is it true?” she asked. “About the party?”

I exchanged looks with Chili and Paige. “What party?”

“The costume party for CRUSH,” she said, with a smirk. “Is it true that you girls are going?”

I shrugged. “Where’d you hear that?”

“Chili told Sol in journalism.”

“All I said ...” Her face turned pink.

“... Is that Logan is getting you and Paige into the party.” Dina beamed at me. “So, what I’m wondering is will this take place before or after the CRUSH model is announced?”

“Halloween,” I mumbled, feeling my own face flush.

“Before or after?” She cocked her head, ready to pounce on whatever I said next.

“I’m not sure. Before, I think.”

“That’s what I thought. See you later.” She left the parking lot, almost running, her A-line top hiking up above her new skinny jeans.

NOTES TO SELF

That talkative Gemini has gotten me in trouble. Now Kat is going to claim that we are influencing Graciela to select Chili as our school’s model. Chili tried to explain that she was just so excited that she had to tell someone. And that someone happened to be the school newspaper editor. Now everyone is going to hate me. I need to talk to someone I can trust, someone reliable, like a Taurus. Maybe it’s time I actually called Jeremy. I take out my cell and look at the photo I took of him on the beach before he left. That thick, dark hair. Those Taurus eyes. I can still see the love in them. He didn’t fake that. He couldn’t have.

WHAT KIND OF FRIEND ARE YOU?

Sagittarius: Optimistic

Capricorn: Practical

Aquarius: Honest

Pisces: Creative