By the time they walked back to Lia’s house, Lia’s blush was mostly replaced by frostbite. Devon kept her close, though, insisting they share his pocket warmer again. Lia couldn’t complain. She couldn’t say much of anything without stuttering.

“So Gem’s picking us up?” Devon asked.

Lia nodded.

Devon ran a hand through his dark hair. “Do you want to meet at the same time tomorrow? I can bring breakfast again.”

“You don’t have to,” Lia said.

“I want to. We can try to get Peter and maybe whoever is after me.”

Lia nodded and waved to Gem, who had just pulled up. “Deal.”

When they got to school, Devon hopped out of the car and took off for orchestra. Gem turned to Lia.

“May is amazing,” Gem said, a hitch in their breath.

Lia laughed. “But most importantly, can she bench-press you?”

“She hasn’t yet, but she definitely could.” Gem collapsed over the steering wheel. “She was so nice, too. She waited to make sure I knew how to do everything and brought me water. She even had snacks.”

“Cute,” Lia said. “I’m glad.”

There was a glow in Gem’s cheeks. “How was your breakfast date?”

“It wasn’t a date,” Lia said. “I think we can get Peter Wednesday morning if we’re careful. We have to delay someone. Let the air out of their tires, maybe?”

“Nope,” Gem said. “Bad plan. Can’t we just block the road instead?”

Lia snapped her fingers. “Way better. I’ll text the others.”

“Speaking of,” Gem said, and pointed to Ben stalking toward the car. “What’s up with him?”

“No clue,” Lia said, and unlocked the doors. “Ben?”

“I’m out!” He threw his backpack into the backseat and slammed his whole body inside as if the car were a bed, not a giant box made of metal and sharp plastic. He held up one hand. “Katie Rogers got me last night. Shot my hand from twenty feet away, that beast.”

He lay down face-first on the seat. Lia reached back and yanked Ben all the way into the car, and Gem shut the door. Ben at least helped a bit, not going totally limp. Lia patted the back of his knee.

“How’d she get you?” Lia asked.

“Luck,” he mumbled into the cushions. “I got locked out of the house, and she got me while I was hopping the fence to get the extra key.”

“I know what might cheer you up,” Gem said. “You want to hear how we’re going to avenge you and get Peter?”

“Hell yes.” Ben sat up, eyes wide and red hair sticking up in every direction. “I can’t help, but I can make sure none of y’all are alone till we win.”

“Peter gets there a little early for his bird-watching thing, just a little after the main guy. Gem will block that guy in their driveway and delay him by five to ten minutes,” Lia said. She looked at Gem and waited for them to nod. “We can take him out when he arrives alone and his leader isn’t there.”

She had no idea what master bird-watchers were called.

“Sounds good,” Ben said. “You text me if you need an escort. Any day, any time. Got it?”

“Thank you,” Lia said. “You’re a lifesaver, and I’m sorry you’re out.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I’m only annoyed.”

All day at school, she thought about the game. And by the end of the day, she was starving. She and Gem drove to a nearby takeout place.

“Would your parents mind if you called out sick to school?” Gem asked as they drove.

“They might,” Lia said, lowering her seat all the way back until she was flat on her back and staring at the ceiling.

They had told her she could take more time off in that tone of “Is that what you really want to do?” that they reserved for when she was making bad decisions.

“I don’t get them,” Gem said. “You’re not a genius, but you always do what they ask and never get in trouble.”

Lia sighed. It felt wrong to complain when her life wasn’t bad. Sometimes all the little things they said tangled up in Lia’s chest and ached. It wasn’t like she could tell someone, “Hi, my parents keep doing small things that sort of hurt my feelings. No, they never do anything really bad. They just make me feel bad.” She would be laughed away.

“They should’ve stopped at Mark,” Lia mumbled.

“Shut up.” Gem got out of the car, kicking their door shut.

Lia groaned and opened the car door. A girl in a red coat pulled a large water gun from her car trunk. It was Mallory McCarty.

Popularity was a thing at Lincoln High, but they’d all known each other since kindergarten and could remember who ate boogers or peed their pants. It was hard to get too high and mighty when everyone had seen you cry because the green-colored pencil was too sharp, which had only happened to Lia once. Everyone had a story like that, except Mallory. She was pretty and had never so much as eaten glue when they were in elementary school.

And Lia had followed her for a week straight to make sure she knew her schedule in case she was Lia’s target.

“Gem!” Lia called, but Gem didn’t hear her.

Mallory raised the water gun and fired. Lia threw herself out of the car and tackled Gem. They tumbled to the concrete.

“Prince,” Mallory said, shaking her head. “I didn’t see you.”

“It’s okay,” Lia said. She was used to it.

Gem struggled to their knees. “That scared the crap out of me.”

“Sorry,” Lia said, “but you almost got tagged out.”

“No, I don’t think that would’ve counted,” Mallory said. Her navy lipstick, so cool against her warm brown skin, was starting to wear. “You’re a witness and now you both know I’m after Gem.”

Mallory helped Gem and Lia to their feet.

“I cannot believe you dove like that,” Mallory told Lia. “It was really impressive.”

“Thanks. That was a great shot.” Lia’s heart was racing in a good way, the beat a drum in her ears, and she wanted to feel this alive forever. “Did you practice? You were so far away.”

“I did!” Mallory laughed.

“Great,” muttered Gem. “Next time you get tackled, see if you say that after.”

Mallory laughed and waved goodbye, running to a car parked on the side street. The three girls inside were laughing so hard it took them a minute to unlock the doors. Gem waved to them all.

“That was close,” Gem said, wincing. “I need fifty chicken tenders.”

“Let’s start with five,” Lia said, grabbing her phone from the car. “Weird. My phone’s unlocked. No wonder it’s almost dead.”