really want to tell this story, but how can I share without the actual details? “Not far from where you left me.”
“Okay, but, like, where specifically?”
I cringe. “I…can’t say.”
“Are you serious?” Her face hardens. “I passed on two SAT study sessions last week to help you map out all your possible spots, and you can’t even tell me which one was the winner?”
“I’m sorry! I really want to, but they swore me to secrecy.”
She leans her head back, releasing an exasperated sigh to the sky. “Ugh! Fine. Well, at least tell me how you found it.”
That seems within reason, as long as I stay vague. “I was exploring the…area…and there was this girl—”
“A girl?”
“—and she was poking around the same places as me. I thought she was after the internship, but as it turns out…” Uh-oh, I’m veering into dangerous territory. Demi opens her eyes wide, waiting. “She…”
“What? Spit it out before this dog humps my leg!”
Ah! Do I reveal there’s a new hero? It’s gotta be public news soon, right? Keeping a Warrior under wraps is an almost-impossible job. In fact, the last hero recruited to the Boston chapter, Bomb Diggity, was actually announced by suspicious WarNats, not the Boston chapter’s spokesperson. I lean into Demi, whispering, “She’s…new to the chapter.”
“As in…she’s a new hero?”
I freeze, not confirming nor denying her guess, though she takes my silence as affirmation.
“Holy crap! You must’ve lost your mind!”
“I know!” I exhale, hoping my technicality of not actually saying anything counts.
“So what’s her deal?”
Her deal? “She’s kind of annoying, honestly. Listen to this—she doesn’t even know anything about Warrior Nation. Nothing! She’s one of those disgusting Miss Perfect types who gets away with murder just because she’s blond and pretty.”
Demi laughs to herself, brown eyes full of pity. “Oh, Claire. You are in trouble.”
“What? Why?” She turns, dogs trailing in her wake. “What?” I insist.
“Just don’t make out with her,” she warns with extra sass.
“What?” I shout. “Are you even listening? Did you not hear me say how annoying she is?”
“Please.” Demi waves my comment away. “A cute blonde swoops into your life and she’s a hero? Give me a break. You worship heroes, and you’re telling me you’re not gonna fall for one?”
For a second, I’m speechless, choking on my own indignation. “But she’s—” I stop myself just in time. Joy is taking Blue Streak’s spot; I could never betray his legacy like that. But I can’t reveal that news to Demi, so I say, “She’s not even my type.”
“You have a type now?”
“Yeah!” I shout unconvincingly. “And it’s…not her.”
She rolls her eyes. “Sure. Suuuuuuuure.”
“Besides, I have a job to do,” I say, continuing my case. “This is my future—I wouldn’t throw it away for some cute girl I don’t even know or like.”
Demi stops, a terrier crashing into her leg. “Two words: Jenny Bradley.”
“Oh that is low, even for you,” I fume. Jenny was on a rival debate team, and last year, right before we went onstage for the semifinals, she pulled me out of line and kissed me so spectacularly, I completely forgot my opening argument against capital punishment. We lost the debate, and Demi never let it go.
“Just saying.” She smiles sweetly.
“That was a year ago. I’ve grown.”
“Uh-huh. Don’t forget to invite me to the wedding.”
“Bye!” I break off, shutting out her nonsense, just as I see the pizza guy pulling up to my building. I run upstairs with my pie, tidying up our apartment before Mom gets home, while Demi’s teasing loops around my head. God, I hate it when she gets like this. Even though we called a truce over our academic pursuits, whenever I achieve something cooler or better than her, she gets all jealous and mean, finding a way to belittle my success. It’s not fair, especially since I don’t do that to her.
Not to mention that she’s lost her mind if she thinks I’m crushing on a girl I just met…a girl who tried to drop me from a two-story boat! I’m pretty sure I was too busy realizing a lifelong dream to be distracted by a girl, no matter how cute. Ugh, Demi. She’s too competitive for her own good; I can’t help it if my summer is going to be epic while she’s outside scooping dog poop.
I toss the pizza on the counter and throw the morning’s coffee mugs in the sink, doing my best to straighten up our tiny apartment. I do what I can to help around here, since being