Tom was a little more reluctant to go back, but he told my parents he was sticking close to me. He also told them he had decided to take up photography, so he was back to normal.
Mia and Shal were waiting by the portable steps like every other day, and I joined them and gave them both a hug, wincing just a little. They’d been calling and messaging non-stop the last two days, and I was very appreciative. It was nice to have friends. When the hugs and reunions were over, things quickly got back to normal. I sat and listened to Shal gossip about Paul, who was standing with Steve and Liam on the other side of the yard. Apparently us all going to the movie didn’t mean we were a group now, which I’d kind of hoped for, but Liam did give me a little wave. I felt my cheeks flush.
“Laura Lovesick is at it again,” Shal said, smirking.
Mia giggled. “Think you guys will go on another date?”
I picked a piece of grass and let it float off in the breeze.
“I hope so.”
“Really?” Shal said, looking past me and shaking her head. “On a Tuesday?”
I followed her gaze and saw Allison Black walking into the schoolyard, wearing a long, flowery summer dress and a white shawl that contrasted sharply with her raven hair. It was quite the change from her Sword’s uniform. I was guessing she was trying to go back to normal too. I smiled knowingly as she walked straight toward us.
“Morning, girls,” Allison said. She was flanked by Ashley and another seagull as usual. The seagull, a girl named Carly, looked at me haughtily.
“Love your graphic T-shirt,” Carly said. “Very original. It’s like Haute Fat Couture.”
“Shut up,” Allison said.
Carly and Ashley looked stunned.
Allison just smiled and walked away, followed by two very confused-looking seagulls.
Mia poked her head around the portable. “Did that just happen?”
Shal and I broke out laughing.
The rest of the school day was normal enough, except for right at the end. I was just packing up my backpack when I noticed Liam walking toward me.
I straightened immediately and tried to act natural. “Hey.”
“Hey,” he said.
His hair was up in kind of a cowlick today, and he was wearing a new striped blue shirt that really brought out his eyes.
“Just want to say thanks again for the movie. It was fun.”
“Yeah, totally,” I said. Totally? Ugh. “We should all do it again sometime.”
“Yeah, I was going to say the same thing.” He paused. “Maybe this weekend?”
Was Liam R. Kelp asking me out? I felt my knees wobbling.
“Yeah,” I said, sounding ten times too eager. “I’ll tell Mia and Shal.”
He grinned. “Awesome. See you tomorrow.”
“See ya,” I said, trying not to run around skipping as he walked away.
Liam wanted to see another movie with me. Well, and the others. But still. Best day ever. I hurried back to my locker, thinking that eighth grade might just be a great year after all.
—
“So, how was your day?” my mom asked, scooping some mashed potatoes onto her plate.
I glanced at her. “Good. Liam asked if I wanted to go to the movies again this weekend.”
Stache shook his head.
He hadn’t managed to finish the house, but it was definitely coming along. The kitchen was all done now, and the bathrooms were painted and polished. There were still a few hallways that were cracking and yellowed, and the dining room was still just a massive pile of boxes. But it was getting there, and it was starting to feel like home.
“I don’t like this kid already,” Stache grumbled.
“I think it’s cute,” my mom said. “More potatoes, Tom?”
Tom was busy feeling around for potatoes on his plate. “Maybe a scoop.”
“How was your day?” she asked, plopping some beside his fork.
“Pretty good,” he said casually. “My EA broke up with her boyfriend. Found an email. Not good. She went to the bathroom to cry for awhile.”
My mom sighed. “Anything else?”
“Not really. Football tryouts are next week, so we better start playing catch in the yard, Dad. I heard they have a pretty good quarterback already, but I think I can take him.”
My dad just nodded. “Sounds good, Tom.”
“I’ve been thinking,” my mom said, glancing at my father. “With the kidnapping, and the disappearances, maybe we should have a family discussion about moving again—”
“No!” Tom and I said at the same time.
My mom looked taken aback, while Stache just grinned.
“I told you, honey. When I was done with this place, they’d never want to leave.”
“Exactly,” I said, and saw Tom smile and dig into his potatoes.
—
Later that night I was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, when I decided to go check in on Derwin. Eldon had told me to take a few days and get some rest, but I wanted to know what was going on. After plummeting down in the elevator, not even holding onto the lever anymore, I emerged to find Porton sitting in the old rocking chair as usual, wearing a knowing grin through that thicket of bushy white hair.
“Welcome back, Monster Crusher. I hear you’ve been busy.”
I snorted. “You could say that.”
He looked at the elevator thoughtfully. “They’ve been talking about you. Saying you saved Derwin from certain destruction. And all this from the girl who almost ran away.” His grey eyes twinkled as he looked at me. “What do you think of yourself now?”
I shrugged and started into the meadow.
“I can swing a mean hammer.”
I heard him laughing as I strode across the meadow, taking in the scenery fully now: the scent of fresh grass; the darting, dancing butterflies; and the sounds of laughter and song in
