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snorted. Before Naomi could respond, Ian said, "Aunt Megan, our job right now is to find Bryan. Let's go interview their friends." He took one page of the list from Naomi's mom. Naomi was impressed. Farm-boy had actually taken the lead. Maybe he wasn't useless after all.  
    "Marcus, why don't you go with them?" Jeff said, but the pretty boy hesitated. "It makes sense to have two groups of three, and these two can't really go with Megan right now, can they?"
    "I guess not, but…"
    "Better hurry, they're getting away," Naomi said. He nodded and trotted off after Mom. When he was out of earshot Naomi whispered, "They think he'll be an alpha?"
    Jeff shrugged. "I suppose he's leader enough. Worries about the family."
    "He so whiny though," Naomi said. She found Marcus somewhat distasteful.
    "She's not going to kill me, is she?" Mikey asked when they were further away.  
    "Not today," Jeff said at the same time as Naomi said, "I won't let her."
    "Thank you." Mikey wrapped his arms around her. She hugged him back, but felt Jeff's gaze on her, heavy and full of appraisal. She wondered if she measured up to whatever stick he was judging her by. Then the moment passed and he asked Mike to take them to see Bry's study buddies.

CHAPTER NINE

    B RYAN ' S CLASSMATES WERE ALMOST USELESS , but Jeff had a knack for asking penetrating questions. He wasn't a pretty boy like Marcus, but he flirted with the girls and made the guys feel comfortable. They were on the fifth name on the list and still had nothing particularly useful. The blonde girl – was her name Amy? – had agreed to meet them at the library.  
    "I have to admit, I had a crush on him when we first started hanging out," the blonde girl said. She was sitting in a window whose sill doubled as a bench. "When he came out I was so disappointed, but he seems so much more comfortable with himself."
    "I see, so you've known him for a while?" Jeff asked. Naomi squeezed closer to the wall, trying to be out of the way of anyone who might be looking for a particular stack, but no one seemed to come this way.
    "Yeah, I've known Bry since freshman year and he always seems so damn observant. Picked up on everything, you know?"  
    "Yeah, I get you," Naomi said to the blonde girl.
    "So when that flower truck almost hit him, and then he didn't even acknowledge it, I knew something was wrong." The blonde girl set down the book she'd been studying and sighed. "He really hated hiding what he was," she said. "I was so disappointed when he came out, I wasn't going to be his girl, but you could really see how much of a relief it was to him. He'd comment more on what I wore and stuff, but it was more… As a fashionista than an interested man. You know?"  
    "He almost got hit by a van?" Jeff asked. "That must have been so scary."
    "I thought so," Anna – or was it Andrea? – said. "But he just blew it off. I mean we were in the middle of the street and this giant van with flowers plastered all over comes out of nowhere and almost hit us. I had to grab his backpack to keep him from walking smack into it."
    "Hmm–maybe we could work in a gag about how worried he was about school for his birthday party. Make cut out van and pretend to run him down with it," Naomi said, playing into Jeff's game.
    She laughed. "You think that's a good idea? I mean if he's under that much stress…"
    "He could use a laugh," Naomi said. Mike agreed, nodding.
    "Yeah sure. It was big and white, but the sides had these huge bouquets painted on them." She paused, leaning into Jeff. "I think it was, uh, Sacramento Florists or something like that."
    "Perfect!" Jeff said. "That'll be great. Mikey will make sure you get an invite."
    ##
    They regrouped in Bryan and Mikey's apartment. Naomi's mom frowned at the cheap furniture and paced through the living room. Mike sat as far away from her if he could, making sure Jeff and Naomi blocked him from Mom. Marcus and Ian sat on the couch. They looked from Mom and back to Naomi as if