Sienna Mercer - Puppy Love!

‘Yeah,’ she said. ‘Unless we started another band as a side-project? I mean, that does sound like me, but I think I’d have remembered.’

Daniel shook his head in disbelief. ‘You want us – I mean, them – to play at Homecoming? Seriously? ’

She nodded. Daniel felt his head whirl with horror.

Be Justin! he ordered himself. Be Justin!

Justin would never yell ‘ No way! ’ to that question. Justin probably wouldn’t question anything that made Riley happy, even if what made Riley happy was volunteering the band to play at a barn dance.

Daniel tried to smile like Justin. That shouldn’t be hard, he thought, considering we have the exact same face. Still, even he could hear the strain in his voice as he answered. ‘You can always ask him,’ he said. ‘But I have to warn you, Daniel has some . . . opinions on mainstream school stuff like Homecoming.’

‘Opinions, hmm?’ Riley tapped her pen against her lips. ‘Well, I’m sure I can talk him into it. I’ll prepare some really good arguments.’

Daniel clamped his jaw shut to hold back the howl of protest that wanted to escape. Desperately, he looked down at Justin’s plate for a distraction. It was empty.

Argh. He’d been so nervous with Debi, he hadn’t had even a single bite of his own meal. He was starving! But if he ordered more food, that might make Riley think Justin was weird. Daniel couldn’t let that happen.

It was only when Riley cleared her throat that he realised just how long he’d been staring at the empty plate. Uh-oh.

‘Justin?’ Riley shook her head, her eyebrows scrunched with worry. ‘Are you still hungry?’

‘Nope,’ Daniel muttered. Then his stomach rumbled so loudly, he had to speak just to cover it up. ‘I’m fine! Totally normal appetite. Really.’

‘Ohh-kay,’ Riley said. ‘If you say so.’

‘Totally.’ Daniel forced a smile. Distract! Distract! ‘So,’ he said, pointing at the list in her hands. ‘Do you have your eye on any committees in particular?’

Riley stared at him. ‘I just told you five minutes ago – I’m applying for the Homecoming Game and Dance organisation jobs. Remember?’

‘Oh!’ Daniel winced. ‘Right.’

Riley looked hurt. ‘Weren’t you listening?’

‘Of course I was!’ Maybe I should have asked Justin to prep me before I took over for him. ‘But why don’t you remind me what you’ve got planned so far?’

It was a fool-proof way to get Riley started. As she launched into the mile-a-minute description of her plans, Daniel tuned out, leaning back against the wall of the booth.

Now let’s see how Justin’s me-impersonation is doing.

Opening up his senses, he tuned in his werewolf-sharp hearing to the voices coming out of Debi and Justin’s booth.

Debi’s voice was as sweet as always, but for some reason, it was starting to sound a little desperate. ‘So, did you even like the movie?’

There was a long silence. Then Justin said, his tone as bleak as if he were at a funeral: ‘. . . Yeah.’

Yeah? Daniel winced. Is that really all you can think of?

Debi’s voice was definitely sounding strained now. ‘What about the movie theatre? I think the new screens are great, don’t you?’

Another long silence felt like torture against Daniel’s ears. Finally – finally! – he heard his brother say, ‘Well. They don’t . . . really . . . rock , do you know what I mean?’

Daniel cringed and sank lower in his seat. Nobody in the world would know what you mean!

Justin probably thought he was sounding artistic and soulful. But he was actually sounding like the most depressed person on earth! I don’t talk like that, Daniel thought. Do I?

‘Justin?’ Riley’s voice snapped him out of his agony.

‘Yeah . . . I am Justin.’ Daniel looked up to find her looking worried.

‘You don’t like that idea?’ she asked.

‘Ah . . .’ Desperately, Daniel tried to remember what she’d just said. He’d been so busy listening to Justin and Debi, he hadn’t heard a word.

Groaning silently, Daniel admitted the truth to himself: He was just no good at dates . . . even the ones that weren’t his own!

How had he ever thought that he could date Debi?

On the other side of the diner, Justin tried not to grimace as he took the tiniest possible bite of Daniel’s club sandwich. I can’t believe he left it all for me to eat! After the huge burger and fries he’d scarfed down in his own booth, he was pretty sure his stomach would explode if he forced down any more.

This is a complete disaster , he thought. From the look on Debi’s face, he was ninety-nine per cent sure he was only hurting his brother’s chances with her, not helping Daniel after all.

At least she hadn’t walked out . . . yet. But, from the expression on her face, Justin worried she was giving it some thought.

‘So . . .’ She took a deep breath. ‘Can you recommend any good bands for me to listen to? Ones that you like?’

‘Um . . .’ Justin hesitated.

He’d never been any good at pretending he knew anything about music. All those songs that Daniel played non-stop at home were just noise to Justin – he had no idea who any of the bands were. The all sounded the same – miserable, angry, and very eager to shout about it.

‘I . . . like . . . stuff that rocks,’ he said, and tried his best to scowl artistically. Unfortunately, he was pretty sure he just looked like his stomach hurt . . . which it did. How much more of Daniel’s meal could he force down?

‘Like . . .?’ Debi prompted.

‘Uh . . .’ In desperation, Justin stuffed the club sandwich back into his mouth, even as his stomach screamed in protest. He had to buy the time to think somehow! Come on, brain! Last night Mom asked Daniel what he’d been listening to, and Daniel said . . . He said . . .

Nope, it was useless. Justin had tuned out of that whole conversation, too busy thinking about the Homecoming Game. He and Dad had ended up in a big debate over training tactics while Mom and Daniel had talked music.

Oh, great , Justin thought. I’m going to have to eat this whole sandwich just to have an excuse not to talk!

Then something caught his attention on the other side of the room, and he had to stifle a moan of relief.

Daniel was stoop-walking out of the Meat & Greet, just like last time, pausing only long enough to signal in Justin’s direction.

Justin dropped the sandwich back on to its plate. ‘Sorry, I’ll be right back. I’ve just gotta . . .’ He gestured vaguely, hoping she would think up an explanation for herself.

‘That’s fine,’ Debi said, and sighed. ‘Really. Totally fine.’

Uh-oh. Justin grimaced as he hurried away. Anyone who says they’re ‘fine’ twice in the same breath is never ‘fine’.

A minute later, he was pulling off Daniel’s scruffy band shirt and buttoning his own shirt back up with relief. Unfortunately . . .

‘Hey!’ said Justin. ‘You’ve got it all creased!’

‘That’s probably from the stoop-walking.’ Daniel shrugged as he pulled on his own shirt again. ‘Mine’s probably creased, too. So what?’

‘But no one can tell with yours .’ Justin shook his head and did his best to smooth down his shirt. ‘Whatever. I’m just glad to be heading back where I belong. Seriously, dude, don’t ever ask me to do that again.’