Chapter 31: Nanny Eliza, Ryan’s Greatest Enemy

Lorraine saw the blast coming and did what she could to get you out of the way. Before I knew what was happening ... my ... my wife. She was gone. She was just gone.

“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t expel you from the Ministry,” demanded Saria once again.

Grafael remained stone-faced against the Minister’s tirade, like an officer taking the abuse of a drill sergeant. “I cannot. I have no excuse. Whether it means death, imprisonment, or a dishonorable discharge, I accept the consequences of my actions.”

Saria huffed in frustration, seeming even more stormy than usual.

Ryan still sat in a bed next to Grafael in the medical ward. Grafy said they were at the Fire Ministry Base next to the coliseum. He remembered the base on the outside looked like little more than a few miles of square, gray buildings connected together and arranged in a large, circular pattern. The cold, gray metal dwellings were less pretty than the red crystalline decorations of the Crystal Palace. However, the simple militaristic aspect of the metal structure reminded Ryan of his home back at the Fire Ministry, and somehow made him feel more comfortable.

At the moment, Ryan racked his brain for a way to help his friend. Many of the things that Grafael told him ... the things that he’d shown him. They concerned Ryan. They concerned him deeply. But he’d have to think about that later. Right now, he needed to keep Grafael at the Ministry. And that meant schmoozing perhaps the most terrifying woman that ever lived.

“Whatever you do to Grafael, you have to do to me too. I agreed to the challenge. You know ... for honor and stuff. I’m just as guilty as him,” said Ryan stubbornly, copying the same stoic expression as Grafael, though not nearly so effectively.”

“This is no time for your antics, Uruks!” fired back the Minister, almost growling as she rounded on him, smoke seeping from her mouth.

Ryan found himself shaking at her enraged presence, but still refused to back down. “It was a challenge ... you know ... like that Voruck thing we did a year ago. It’s a matter of Saurian honor. Besides, if you kick him out, then I won’t get the chance to kick his butt and prove I’m better than him.”

Grafael sniffed, smirking slightly as if doubting Ryan’s proclamation.

“You wanna go right now, Grafy boy!” yelled Ryan, jerking up out of his bed at the slight. He waved a wrapped hand, IVs still attached to his arm. He was being overly dramatic, but he wanted Saria focusing on him and not Grafael.

Saria shoved Ryan down with a single hand, flattening him into the bed.

Geez, that woman’s strong! Someone takes their vitamins!

The Minister took a deep breath, massaging her temple, “I know what you’re doing, Ryan. Your loyalty to Grafael is admirable, but it doesn’t change what happened. He engaged you, an underclassman, with full force. Hell, from the recordings, it almost looked like he was trying to kill you!”

Ryan balled up the ends of his blankets in his hands and sat up once again. “No more than I was him! This is a Saurian thing, alright! Raptor Warriors never do anything halfway. If anything, it means that Grafael doesn’t see me as an underclassman, but as an equal brother in arms. He paid me honor, and I grew stronger from it. I may be human, but I am also of Sauria. You prevail or you die! That is our way, the way of the warrior! Now you want to repay that kindness by sending him away!”

Grafael turned toward Ryan, his face seeming in awe.

Saria pursed her lips and turned away from them, placing her hand against the wall as if to steady herself. “Even if I could be led to believe that this is some kind of Saurian rite of passage, that changes nothing. He is still subject to our rules when he agreed to work for the Ministry. Perhaps even more so given his tenuous status in our ranks. When Grafael came to this Ministry with Éclair all those years ago, I allowed him entry on an honorary basis as a favor to a friend. To become an Elemental, a Psionic User must demonstrate power with at least one element and one psionic ability. Saurians are naturally born Beaters, able to use Physical Type psionic abilities to enhance their strength. However, unlike the Winged Dragons, they cannot use conventional Elemency. But I let him join anyway despite the fact that he exhibited no giftings in any element.”

Ryan pointed at Grafael. “What the heck do you think just happened back there? Not even Graf can throw rocks that good! Hell, he can’t even go back to his home because he can use Earth Elemency!”

Saria zipped back around furiously. Her movement was too fast for Ryan to follow completely as she was at his side in an instant after standing on the other side of the room at least ten feet away. Wind blew against Ryan’s face and his blankets flew up from the Minister’s sudden burst of speed.

“And the first thing he did with that power was savagely attack a comrade well outside the safety boundaries for instructors!” yelled Saria. “He is not above the law, Ryan! No one is!”

Ryan shrank before her, wanting nothing more than to crawl under the bed. He wasn’t sure if it was simply her power or her personality that made her so frightening. As Ryan gathered his wits, he lowered his head and decided to try something even riskier.

“It wasn’t his fault. He was put up to it,” said Ryan evenly.

“Ryan, don’t!” exclaimed Grafael, becoming alarmed for the first time since this conversation began.

Ryan ignored him and pressed forward. “There was ... a guy at a bar. The guy spiked his drink or something!”

Saria’s face went from livid to confused. “What?”

“I don’t know the full details, okay! But this guy did something to Grafy at that bar. Set this whole thing up.”

Now Saria looked troubled, deeply troubled as she glanced at Grafael and said slowly, “Is this true?”

Grafael growled slightly, making his stone-face yet again. “Not completely. I deliberately chose this course because I thought that ... I thought that both Ryan and I posed a danger to Lady Éclair, and to a greater extent, the Ministry itself. I asked to become his instructor in an attempt to persuade him to leave the Ministry with me. But it was the stranger who revealed these things to me.”

“What bar was this?” asked Saria, deeply interested as she leaned over the edge of Grafael’s bed.

Grafael’s voice sounded dead as he responded. “The Tipsy Dragon at the edge of Tarrus Space. It was on a space station called Lunaras near the Albaca Star System. I go there every year on the anniversary of my banishment.”

He’s ashamed for going to a bar once a year, thought Ryan. But after what he’s been through, who can blame him for wanting to get drunk? Heck, I’d probably do it too if I wasn’t underaged.

“This ... this stranger,” started Saria carefully. “Do you remember anything about him? What did he tell you to make you think that both you and Ryan needed to leave the Ministry?”

“I can’t tell you what he looked like. He was shrouded in a hood, but he seemed to know a great deal about me and my homeworld. He showed me a vision. It depicted us in the Berserker State,” said Grafael, his head lowered in shame. “As you know, only those with both sides of Elemency are afflicted by this disease among my people. I thought with Ryan being mostly human, it wouldn’t affect him like it will eventually affect me. I was wrong.”

“That’s not true!” shouted Ryan. “It’s so stupid! I mean, even when you were going all out against me using Earth Elemency, you still didn’t go crazy then! Plus, I’m pretty sure I’ve had like ... so many traumatic moments when I probably should’ve gone Berserker, but I didn’t! So I don’t see what the big deal-”

Ryan went silent as Saria raised her hand. “I am aware of this so-called Berserker State. When you first came here, I had the medics check you for anything out of the ordinary. Their results came up negative. Granted, we don’t fully understand this illness, but we should’ve at least detected something.”

“But I haven’t used my Elemental powers since I was a child. That might’ve slowed the infection. Now that I have used Elemency again, it’s only a matter of time,” said Grafael, doubling down.

Saria put a thumb to her bottom lip, her face contemplative. She then turned away from them, holding one hand behind her back. She just stood there silently for a time, pondering things that only people of power pondered.

“Look, Minister,” said Ryan softly. “You forgave me when I attacked Tork. Grafael may have roughed me up a little, but it’s nothing I haven’t been through before. Besides, I already feel like a stronger Elemental because of our fight. I ... I need Grafael. I need him to stay and help me get stronger. If there is some kind of disease, I’ll get a checkup just to make sure it’s safe. That should satisfy Grafy.”

“I need time to think on all this,” Saria said quietly, making for the door. “If I’m right, and I hope I’m not, both Grafael and I have been manipulated in this.”

“Wait, both Grafael and you?” repeated Ryan.

“Minister?” said Grafael questioningly.

“For now, consider yourself under house arrest, Grafael T’Macor,” said Saria, her back facing them. “You are not to go anywhere or do anything without an escort from now on until I can find a proper reprimand for you. I’ll arrange for a complete physical to check for any sign of the disease in both of you. With the aid of Medical Elemency, the two of you should be fit by the end of the day. When you’re discharged, I also want you to report to the Mental Division to see if they can detect any telepathic manipulation. That’ll be all for now.”

The Minister left the room, the door vanishing and reappearing in a torrent of flames.

Grafael closed his eyes and lay back down. “Your efforts are noble, little brother, but futile. I am still determined to leave the Ministry even if Saria somehow allows me to stay. My mind is made up.”

“You stubborn jackass,” grunted Ryan. “You always have to be the martyr, don’t you? For once, can’t you let someone do something nice for you? I know you don’t want to leave any more than I do.”

Grafael’s azure, reptilian eye opened in a flash, looking right at Ryan with the intensity of a thunderstorm. “Then do you have an answer for my dilemma? Can you tell me with certainty that you have a way of preventing my vision from coming to pass?”

“I ... I don’t know, alright,” admitted Ryan ashamedly, still haunted by the things he’d seen himself do in that vision. “Just give me time, okay. Please. All I’m asking for is a little time to think of something. Besides. The Minister’s going to run tests on us. If they come out negative, that should prove to you that nothing’s wrong.”

“The Berserker State is unpredictable. Even after years of study, my people do not fully comprehend the disease. I doubt that a rudimentary test will reveal anything.”

“Even so, will you please just give me time to come up with a plan,” begged Ryan.

Grafael groaned and leaned back into his big, fluffy pillow. “Very well. I will trust you in this, little brother. But if you fail to come up with an answer to satisfy me soon, I will tender my resignation. When that happens, I suggest you do the same ... for your sake and for Éclair’s.” There was an unmistakable hint of a threat in his voice. With that, Grafael closed his eyes, rolled over, and went to sleep.

A few hours later, the Medical Unit released Ryan to his quarters. They told him his recovery skills were impeccable, saying that they thought he’d be out of commission for at least another day. Although he kind of wished that Éclair could’ve been the one to heal him instead. Having a bunch of strangers trace their glowing hands over him was not his idea of fun. Plus, they all wore red lab coats, gloves, and masks that completely obscured their features. Their attire made Ryan feel uncomfortable, like he was some kind of radioactive toxic patient. They said their tests came up negative for any foreign strain like the Berserker Virus, but Ryan doubted that would satisfy Grafael. After the medics discharged him, the Mental Division came in next.

Forget what I thought about those lab coat freaks. These guys are creepy with a capital ‘C’.

The Mental Division consisted of Elementals with Mental-Type psionic abilities. That most likely made them human telepaths like Leon, denoting them the title of Thinkers. They all wore flowing dark maroon robes with intricate designs of golden glyphs embroidered in the cloth. Many of them had their heads shaved, even the women. They explained that hair could sometimes interfere with telepathic brainwaves. They also explained that it was a way of honoring the Sages, the first race to discover telepathy. They rarely spoke, but just glanced at each other anxiously, as if they carried on a conversation in their heads.

Ryan found himself instinctively distrusting them. He liked most older Elementals he met. They mostly possessed the earnestness and pragmatic nature of soldiers, like Mr. Madison and Eramar. Given his heritage, it’s no wonder he felt most comfortable around the comradery shared by fellow warriors. But these guys just seemed too secretive ... too cagey.

Another group of Thinkers ushered Grafael into another room. Unlike with the medical exam, the Thinkers wanted to conduct their services in private. About a dozen Thinkers then surrounded Ryan, and each one placed a single finger to his head. They closed their eyes and asked Ryan to do the same. One of them told Ryan to empty his mind. Ryan tried to comply, but found himself thinking about how Leon or Éclair would make a crack about that not being too hard for him. After a few uncomfortable minutes of the Thinkers poking his head and weirdly humming to themselves, they finally stood back and filed out of the room without a word. One thing made them seem even more creepy; they all moved in unison, like they had some kind of hive mind and no longer possessed individuality.

Ryan shook himself, wiggling his cheeks back and forth while blowing a raspberry. He rubbed the spots where they touched him, then he hugged himself and shivered, their creepiness still agitating him even after they left. Ryan started for the room where the other telepaths went, hoping to talk to Graf.

As the door disappeared in a flash of flames, Cedric stood blocking the exit. The white-haired mute man, wearing his usual open-chested gray shirt, loomed over Ryan, making him miss the company of the Thinkers.

Wait a minute! Thought Ryan in horror. If he’s here, then that means...

Someone with wrinkly arms wearing a maid’s outfit hugged Ryan from around the waist behind him.

“Did you miss me, handsome?” crooned Nanny Eliza.

Ryan screamed like a girl in a horror movie. He tried to pry her arms off him, but the old lady had a terrifyingly strong hold. Ryan spun around back and forth, trying desperately to shake the hag off him. Her feet flew across the floor as he tossed her right and left, but she still held firm.

Nanny Eliza giggled like a schoolgirl as her legs swung back and forth. “Oh, my! You’re so strong, soldier boy! You’ve been working out, haven’t you, dearie? I think I feel a six-pack in those tight abs now. Good for you. Don’t get me wrong, you were still a cute fuddy-duddy when I met you. But now you went from flab to fab in just a little over a year. My wittle cutie pie is becoming a beefy man pie.”

When it seemed obvious that she wasn’t going to let go, Ryan relented, slouching in defeat. “Hey, Nanny Eliza. Hey, Cedric,” he said in exhaustion, his horror giving way to tiredness.

Cedric made clicking noises with his tongue and then wiggled his fingers in front of his face as if he were imitating a ghost.

Ryan remembered Cedric’s peculiar form of sign language with both fondness and trepidation. Trepidation because it sometimes involved slapping, and other unpleasant interactions.

After whimpering slightly like a poltergeist, Cedric reached out, pinching Ryan on his nose hard. After releasing the nose, he then drew back his head and hawked up a loogy right into Ryan’s eye. Cedric beamed at Ryan, offering the most sincere and friendly of smiles. Ryan took the spit in stride, only flinching slightly. Given everything that Ryan had been through with this man, being spat in the face didn’t surprise him at all.

Nanny Eliza finally released her grip on Ryan’s waist. Clapping excitedly, she said, “Oh, how wonderful! Cedric hasn’t given that honor to anyone in a long time. It’s the deepest sign of respect amongst his people, reserved only for those who are revered for their prowess.”

“Then he won’t be offended if I do it back to him?”

“Of course not,” replied Nanny Eliza, waving a hand. “In fact, he’s looking forward to it.”

Cedric nodded excitedly while motioning towards his face as if saying, ’Let me have it’!

Ryan wiped the spit from his eye and grinned. “Don’t have to tell me twice.”

Ryan drew back his head and sucked up the biggest loogy he’d ever sucked up in his life. From the amount of spit and snot he’d gathered in his mouth, the portion was going to be epic, possibly even covering most of the mute’s face.

Cedric’s smile deepened as he awaited the ‘sign of honor’ anxiously. Then just as Ryan spat forward, someone nudged Cedric gently on the shoulder behind him, prompting him to turn around and move his head to the side. As Cedric moved to the side to see the newcomer, Ryan realized too late that the loogy he’d just launched would not hit its intended target, but Éclair instead.

Éclair took Ryan’s spit full-on in the face, an equal proportion of saliva and mucus dowsing both eyes. Ryan gasped in horror. Shame and embarrassment didn’t even begin to cover what he felt as Éclair stood stunned by what just happened.

“Oh my God!” cried out Ryan. “Éclair, I’m ... I’m so ... it’s ... it’s an honor thing. You know, Cedric spit in my eye to honor me. And then I ... and then you ... I ... I ... Shaka kika mama.” Ryan’s words trailed off into incoherent babbling, his nonsense cursing coming full swing.

Ryan reached out to wipe the spittle away, but Éclair held out a hand. Remaining eerily calm, Éclair kept her eyes closed as she reached into her blouse and brought out a handkerchief. She dabbled the handkerchief on her face for a few tense moments. When she seemed satisfied that most of the bile had been removed, she glared at Ryan contemptuously.

“Well, that was a lovely experience,” she said.

Cedric and Eliza now stood to the side of the room watching the exchange. Cedric was aghast, but Nanny Eliza seemed to be stifling a laugh, though very unsuccessfully.

“E-Éclair,” stammered Ryan. “I-I’m ... I’m...”

He trailed off as Éclair’s features softened. “I am well aware of Cedric’s customary spittle ceremony, having endured one myself. Though I’d hope never to endure it again. Next time, I’d recommend you be more careful of your aim.”

“S-so you know that it’s meant to be a sign of honor, right?”

“I have been previously informed.”

Ryan chuckled nervously. “S-so you’re welcome ... I guess.”

The room suddenly felt colder as misty frost gathered around Éclair like an angry cloud. “Don’t push it.”

Ryan gulped.

Éclair turned to Cedric and Eliza coldly. “What are you two doing here anyway?”

“Oh. Cedric was assigned to help the Thinkers look at Grafael for any sign of telepathic tampering,” explained Eliza, pointing a thumb at Cedric who stood beside her.

“Cedric’s in the Mental Division?” asked Ryan incredulously. “I thought he was a groundskeeper.”

“Oh, he is. But before that, he was an Elemental Thinker of some repute,” Eliza explained, patting Cedric affectionally on his back. “Though he’s officially retired from normal Elemental work, the Mental Division occasionally asks Cedric for advice.”

Ryan appraised the mute more respectfully, and Cedric shrugged in a mock show of innocence.

“Never mind that,” said Éclair, still wiping her brow reflexively. “Have any of you seen Grafael? I need to speak with him.”

“I thought he was in there,” said Ryan, pointing behind Éclair.

“He was, but I think those Thinkers escorted him to the barracks,” said Eliza, batting her eyes at Ryan.

Éclair turned to leave.

“Éclair, wait!” called Ryan. “I was hoping we could-”

“Until I have recovered from this indignity, it would be best not to talk with me ... unless you fancy losing a toe or two from frostbite,” said Éclair tersely.

Ryan decided not to speak further. She seemed particularly impatient, and he didn’t think it was just because he spat in her eye.

Then Éclair turned around and spoke more softly. “Maybe we can talk after the dance. I’d like to discuss what happened between you and Grafael.”

“Wait! Dance? What dance?” asked Ryan.

However, Éclair had already left.

“Well, someone’s put a bee in her bonnet,” said Eliza with a laugh.

“What did she mean by ‘dance’?”

“I think she meant ‘dance’, as in...” Eliza trailed off as she shook her hips and raised her hands, doing a little salsa. Then she took Ryan by his hands, swinging his arms back and forth in a swaying motion.

Ryan frowned, jerking his hands away. “Son of a biscuit! I know what a dance is. But she made it sound like there’s some kind of special event or something.”

“She’s probably talking about the Preliminary Dance that’s happening at the Crystal Palace tonight,” said a new voice from an unknown origin. “I hear it’s kind of like Prom for us Elementals, but I still don’t know what Prom is.”

Ryan spun in surprise to find none other than Thomas Madison snacking on a snow cone. The pudgy little twerp already had his head stuck in a Creation Fridge at the corner of the room, fishing out a soda that materialized at its center after pressing a few buttons. Ryan nearly cursed as he only had a limited amount of energy assigned to his room for food rations.

“Hey, Master,” said Thomas, his words slurred between mouthfuls of the snow cone. “Do you think this thing can make cake with chocolate filling? I only see normal stuff on this Creation Fridge.”

“When the heck did you get in here, you little turd?”

Thomas looked to Ryan puzzled. “You mean you didn’t see me walk in with Nanny Eliza?” Thomas scratched his head for a moment, and then he gasped. “That must mean I used a psionic ability. Holy crap! I must’ve turned invisible without even knowing it! I knew I’d get it eventually! I just need to remember what I was thinking about when I walked in!”

“I’m pretty sure you were thinking about eating my food, kid.”

“Quiet, Master! I must concentrate!” Thomas closed his eyes and shook his little fists together, all the while muttering, “I’m invisible. I’m invisible.”

“Should I even ask why he’s here?” asked Ryan to Nanny Eliza, gesturing at the muttering boy with his thumb.

“Don’t be cross, now. He wanted to watch you perform, and his mum asked me to look after the little tyke.” Eliza then cozied up to Ryan, rubbing her shoulder against his chest. “Don’t mind the little blighter. Once he’s tucked and snuggled in bed tonight, maybe we can do a little snuggling of our own.”

Ryan shuddered. “There’s got to be some kind of law you’re breaking right now so that I can get a restraining order on you,” he whispered.

“Oh, a court visit sounds lovely, dearie. Cedric and I do jury duty every Tuesday. We’ll save you a spot.”

“Why every Tuesday?”

“Because that’s when I have my ... my appointment with the judge. He puts me on jury duty so that no one’s asking why I’m there. I’ve met the most interesting blokes on death row. Something about being fated for execution just makes a man passionate for life.”

“Wh-what...” Ryan trailed off, hesitant to ask, but did so anyway. “What kind of appointments do you have with the judge?” he asked in horror, immediately regretting his question.

“Oh, jealous, dearie?” Eliza pinched Ryan’s cheeks and winked at him. “No need. He’s just an old friend of mine. Besides. He’s not half the man you are.”

Blessedly, Thomas stepped between them, looking up at Ryan excitedly. “Master! Am I invisible yet?”

“No, but ... but I think I’m starting to see through you a little,” lied Ryan.

Thomas gasped, looking himself over. “For realsies.”

“For realsies. Right, Nanny? Doesn’t he look like he’s turning invisible to you?” asked Ryan, desperately hoping the twerp would distract her long enough for him to get to the door as he backed away subtly.

“Well, am I, Nanny?”

Nanny huffed, frowning at the interruption. “Yes, yes. Of course, my little pudding pop. Now run along and be invisible over there in the corner. The grownups are talking.”

“But I-”

Nanny shoved the snow cone Thomas held back into his mouth. He grumbled, but continued to chew visibly, smearing green syrup all over his cheeks. He then started muttering, “I can turn invisible. I can turn invisible.”

Nanny’s old eyes focused on Ryan as she stretched her hands towards him expectantly. “Now, where were we?”

By some miracle, Ryan had managed to back all the way to the door. “Well, look at the time,” he exclaimed, pointing at his wrist despite not wearing a watch. “I better be going to do that ... that thing I needed to do. That very important thing that’s totally real and not made up. Bye, now.”

As Ryan turned to leave through the vanishing door, his path was blocked once again, this time by Rachel Kaves of all people. Rachel looked at Ryan in surprise as he stood in silence, shocked by her presence.

Rachel Kaves coming to visit my room by herself! What the crap!

Rachel glanced over Ryan’s shoulder to the others gathered inside and smirked. “Sleepover?”

Nanny Eliza shoved Cedric on the shoulder, and chirped, “Oh, that’s a smashing idea, dearie. Cedric, let’s spend the night here. That way we can save hotel points for that vacation we planned with the Merpeople. You remember how fun they were at conga, don’t you?”

Cedric grinned sheepishly, and Ryan could’ve sworn that the man was blushing.

“Oh, Master. If we’re having a sleepover, could I order takeout? Your fridge can’t make Chinese food for some reason,” said innocent little Thomas.

Nanny Eliza clapped her hands excitedly. “Oh, we could play spin the bottle! Though I warn you, dearie. If you dare me to kiss you, I won’t say no.”

“God, no!” groaned Ryan. “We are not having a sleepover! At this point, I don’t think I feel comfortable sleeping on the same moon as you three, let alone in the same room!”

Ryan rubbed his temple in fatigue, then turned back to Rachel who still waited expectantly. He pressed his palms together, pointing his fingertips at her. “I’m sorry. Rachel! It’s you! The person that ... never talks to me in private. What can I do for you?”

Rachel drew in a deep breath as if she were about to do something distasteful. “You know about the dance, right?”

Ryan nodded hesitantly. “Very recently, yes.”

“Okay. You can pick me up at five. We’ll want to get there early so that none of the good snacks are taken.”

Ryan’s jaw went slack. “Wait. What?”

“You’re going to be my date for the dance,” said Rachel matter-of-factly, as if the whole thing had been planned for in advance.

Ryan opened his mouth with a low whining noise coming out at first. “Uh ... why?”

Rachel rolled her eyes. “You wanna go to the dance with a date, right? That way you don’t look like a total loser.”

“I mean ... I ... I ... Pliffff...” Words escaped him. At this point, Ryan had no idea what was happening.

“Éclair’s already going with Leon, so it’s too late to ask her anyway,” Rachel explained, her voice turning bitter.

Ryan raised a finger. “That,” growled Ryan through clenched teeth, becoming more angry than baffled at this point. But then his anger slowly melted into intrigue as he said, “Is a very valid point.”

“Good,” said Rachel, grabbing Ryan’s hand and shaking it like they had just settled on a business deal. “Remember. Five sharp. Don’t be late. And wear something ... something that makes you seem cooler. I’ll keep up my end and put on something awesome. That way, you can at least walk in there with your head held high, and then gloat at the other dumb guys for scoring a dish like me. I know I’m being generous in giving your social status this big of a boost, but I’m just nice that way.”

Rachel released Ryan’s hand with a rough jerk and turned to leave.

“I may come to regret asking this,” called Ryan, coughing uncomfortably into his hand. “But I still gotta know why?”

Rachel looked back over her shoulder in disgust. “It’s nothing romantic, dumbass. Even with your recent sexy growth spurt, you’re still not my type. You’re way too optimistic, loud, and generally annoying.”

“Sexy growth spurt?” repeated Ryan.

“That being said, you are a better alternative than those other jerks who’ve asked me to go just because they wanna get in good with my grandmother. Plus, I figure this way, we could put our heads together at the dance and figure out a way to ruin Éclair’s and Leon’s night.”