CHAPTER 45

MAGGIE CHECKED THE CLOCK. Again. Still three minutes to go, but the history class was absolutely crawling this afternoon —and it had nothing to do with Mr. Cutter’s lesson. She chanced a casual scan of the room.

Wolfe leaned back. Did he even care that because of him some seventh-grade kid was going to be checking over his shoulder for the rest of the school year?

Hudson looked okay. Relaxed even. Which sort of bothered Maggie. Hudson had made some powerful enemies, and he just sat there like he had nothing to worry about. Maggie would have to worry for both of them.

Had she actually apologized after misjudging him so badly? She owed him that.

She made up her mind about another thing. Right after class she’d talk to Hudson about the three of them sticking together. There would be safety in numbers, right? But exactly how would she ask?

I know you were the one who got attacked by Wolfe and his pack. I know you want to help others —and that you’re even doing it as a school project. And now that I’m sure you’re not a wacko, I’d like to hang out with you and Pancake . . . if you’ll let me. Yeah, that sounded totally lame. Forget the rehearsing. She’d have to wing it.

“Hudson,” Mr. Cutter said the instant the bell rang, “remember, you have some place you need to be. I’m going to excuse you first.”

Hudson stuffed his notebook into his backpack and hustled for the door. Maggie looked at Pancake, who shrugged and shook his head slightly. Hudson missed eating lunch and earned a detention? This definitely wasn’t Hudson’s week.

Wolfe was actually smiling as he passed Maggie’s desk. Hudson’s misfortune seemed to brighten Wolfe’s day. Jerk.

She hated to leave without talking to Hudson. She ripped a page out of her notebook and dashed off a quick note as the other students filed out.

“Pancake!”

He walked over and waited while she folded the paper into a small square. “Give this to Hudson —okay?”

He gave her a look like he thought she was acting weird, but nodded and pocketed the note.

She stood and walked out of class with him. “You won’t forget?”

“I got this.” He patted his pocket. “Consider it done.”

She took a deep breath and blew it out. She was a little fuzzy on what her next step should be. But one thing was pretty clear. Hudson and Pancake were trying to make a difference. And whatever they were up to, she wanted to be part of it.