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mouth. Something sharp and electric zigzagged through me. I didn’t have the courage to tell him that I liked him. I thought that maybe I should tell him about the dream, but … well, it didn’t feel like a good idea. And it really didn’t feel like a good idea to go all I heart you Sooooo much on him, either.
    “I don’t know what I want,” I said. “Not yet, anyway. I’m still trying to figure it all out.”
    His gaze warmed, and a smile tugged his lips. “I’ll be here when you do.” He rolled to his feet, and then gestured at me to c’mon. “Let’s go, brown eyes. You really need to practice your tuck and rolls.”
    I groaned. Tuck and rolls were my least favorite move. It had taken forever for me to learn how to do one from a standing position, and half the time, I still face-planted.
    I climbed to my feet.
    “Don’t give me the puppy-dog look,” he said.
    I jutted out my lip and pretended to sniffle.
    “Lame,” he said, stifling laughter. He made his expression serious, but he couldn’t quite extinguish the twinkle in his eyes. “Ten in a row, brown eyes. Go!”
     
    “MEETING,” SNAPPED CLARISSA. She and her two favorite minions stood in front me, blocking me from moving forward with my tray of food. Over her shoulder, I looked longingly at the lunch table where all my friends sat. I could see them staring me. Barbie lifted her hands in a WTF gesture, and all I could do was shake my head.
    Every day this week, Clarissa had pulled last-minute meeting bullcrap. Since Clarissa had a leadership position in the society, she liked to throw her weight around—especially at me. I couldn’t explain to my friends why I was even talking to wicked bitch of the west, so I told them we’d been assigned as lab partners for a science project.
    “Another lunchtime meeting?” I asked. “What’s on the agenda today? Make-up tips? Shoe advice? Why red is the color of evil?”
    Clarissa rolled her eyes and tossed her red hair. “Well, I’m sorry the business of the Nekros Society is screwing up your social life. You could always quit, Molly. Then you wouldn’t have to worry about little things like saving the world.”
    Her minions giggled.
    I looked at them. “Don’t you hav e an appointment with the 1980s … you know, to give those dresses back?”
    Their expressions went as hard as stone. Accusing someone in Clarissa’s circle of bad fashion was akin to declaring war. They both smoothed their stripped dresses with the triangular shoulder pads. Their hair was slicked and braided into long ropes. They were almost twin-like, except one was short and blonde and the other tall and brunette. The blonde lifted her finger and I saw a thin line of glittery black magic sprout from her nail, coiling like a pet snake around her hand. She hissed at me, raising that finger, but Clarissa grabbed her arm.
    “Knock it off,” demanded Clarissa. “You want to get sanctioned? You know the rules. No reaper magic outside of training.”
    Oh, sure. Like Clarissa was all about following the rules, even though the first day I met her, she used her magic to trip me and humiliate me.
    “Every member has been called to the temple.” Clarissa’s smile was thin, and as shiny as a blade. “Daddy has an announcement.”
    “Fine. Whatever.” I maneuvered around her and the evil twins, and hurried to the table where my friends waited for me.
    Barbie, who was dressed in black lace and striped leggings, glared at me. The kohl around her eyes was extra heavy and she wore scarlet red lipstick. “What the hell did her highness want this time? Does she need help clipping her talons?”
    “It’s that stupid lab thing,” I said. “I can’t stay for lunch.”
    “Shocker,” said Barbie. She looked down and contemplated her ketchup-bathed French fries. “Have fun with your new BFF.”
    Argh! It seemed I’d been spending most of my time feeling bad—and right now was no exception. I hated ditching my friends, and I really