Melissa Darnell - Crave

Ron must have been raised by parents who believed in being polite, though, because he didn’t blow me off. “Maybe. I heard Coach Parker’s getting desperate for some solid second-string players on varsity.”

I could feel three people hovering at my back, no doubt wishing I would move. Smothering a nasty grin, I spread my feet, crossed my arms over my chest and settled in. “That’d be sweet if we got moved up. Think we’d get any actual field time then?”

Ron shrugged. “Probably. You know how it is. Between grades and injuries, we might stand a good shot.”

Someone had the guts to tap my shoulder. I ought to break off those fingers. Instead, I ignored them and kept talking with Ron, discussing who might be most likely to get benched next fall for injuries or failing grades.

Unfortunately, Savannah and Anne appeared to be too deep in their own whispered conversation to notice the prime opportunity I’d given them to escape. Girls. They picked the worst times to turn chatty.

When Ron leaned away to grab his books, I cleared my throat. Anne looked up. I shot her a look that hopefully told her to get her skinny rear in gear. She got the hint, grabbed Savannah, and within half a minute the girls were leaving.

Just as I started to relax, I sensed the Creepy Three shifting as if to follow the girls.

“See you at practice,” I said to Ron then headed for the door, lengthening my stride so I would reach it before the creeps. At the doorway, I turned and gave them my ugliest look.

They had the nerve to glare back at me, even though all three of them were a good half a foot shorter than me. Not to mention they couldn’t have weighed more than a hundred pounds combined.

“I know you’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking,” I growled. Behind me, the math-building exit door banged shut.

They stared up at me. Man, they just had no clue what kind of danger they were in. I could beat all three of them into pulp in ten seconds flat and not even work up a sweat.

“Is there a problem, boys?” Mr. Chandler said from his desk.

“Yes, sir,” I said, working not to smile. “I could’ve sworn I just heard these three call you a fat, bald-headed little pig.”

Mr. Chandler stood up. “Well. Sounds like maybe you three should stay for a little chat with me.”

Confused, they turned to the teacher and started stammering. That ought to hold them for a while, at least long enough for the girls to reach the parking lot and their rides. Satisfied, I headed outside in time to see Savannah get into her grandma’s car.

What I wasn’t expecting was to see Anne stalking back toward the math building.

Curiosity made me call out to her, “Hey, where are you going?”

The building door opened behind us. I glanced back. The Creepy Three slunk through, giving me pathetic excuses for scary looks before they headed down the catwalk.

Anne’s glare was much more impressive as she stared after them. “I’m going toad hunting.”

“Uh, I think the situation’s under control now.”

“They made her shake! And did you see that look they just gave you? Do you really think they’re going to leave her alone now?”

Frowning, I watched the toads in question stop at the other end of the catwalk and huddle. No telling what ideas they were coming up with.

“All right, I see your point. But why don’t you let me handle them?”

“Why, because you think I’ll get hurt?” She sneered.

“No. I’m sure you could take them. But I think a simple man-to-man talk is a better solution.” I felt my mood darken with all the things I’d like that talk to include.

Her eyes narrowed. “You really like her, don’t you?”

I blinked a few times. “Why would you think that? Just because I want to help someone out …”

“Jeez, all you boys are the same. What, did you grow up on stories about Camelot or something? You know, contrary to popular Southern male opinion, not every female is a damsel in distress just sitting around waiting to be rescued by Lancelot, or whatever. We can take care of ourselves.”

“Actually, I’ve always thought of myself more as a King Arthur type. You know, take charge, lead the troops and all that,” I joked.

She snorted. “Oh, of course your ego would be king-size.”

“Hey, whatever it takes to get the job done.”

“Uh-huh. Okay, Arthur, we’ll see how you do with the toads.”

“That’s King Arthur to you.”

“Don’t hold your breath for that one.” She headed for the parking lot, then stopped after a few yards and turned back. “You really think I could’ve taken them?”

I laughed. “Oh, yeah. Easily.”

“Good answer, Coleman! You might actually be good enough for her someday,” she yelled back.

I cringed and glanced around, but thankfully no one seemed to be paying attention.

I checked my watch, cursed and broke into a jog toward the field house, bracing myself for the punishment I’d get for being late. Laps, probably, at least five of them. Maybe more depending on Coach Parker’s mood today. Oh, well. It’d be worth it. Along the way, I tried to figure out what I would do about the Creepy Three. Or the toads, as Anne had called them.

I had to focus during weight training. Part of my punishment for my lateness was being paired up with some wimpy kid who needed a spotter to save him from the evil bench press every few seconds. But as soon as practice ended and I finished all ten laps around the outdoor track that ringed the practice field, my brain went right back to the problem at hand.

All joking aside, Anne’s claim that she could take care of the boys herself was overconfident. Sure, maybe she and Savannah could handle one boy. Maybe two. But three at a time? No way. And what about when Savannah wasn’t with Anne?

I had options, though none of them were great. Beating up the toads would make my fists happy and ensure the jerks got the point. But there was that whole problem with Jacksonville High’s no-violence policy again.

I could settle for threatening them instead, but I doubted they’d be smart enough to listen and stay away from Savannah.

That left me with only one solution that couldn’t be traced back to me, at least by normal methods, and would take the choice away from the creeps. For that, I’d need my sister’s help.

I got to the car before Emily. Kicking back, I propped my feet on the dashboard and waited. I must have drifted off.

“Hey, sleepyhead.” Emily tossed her poms onto my face as she got in. “Get those grubby feet off my dash, please.” Using her index finger like a wand, she magically lifted my feet in the air for a few seconds. Man, I hated it when she used telekinesis on me! It made me feel like a puppet. Seriously creepy. Not to mention the small pinpricks that raced over my skin whenever she used magic around me. And that was just from a tiny use of power.

Swatting away the annoying piles of plastic, I sat up. The sun was already setting. “What took you so long?”

“Cheerleading practice. Remember? Cheerleaders have to train hard, too.”

“Uh-huh.” I frowned at the fast-sinking sun then glanced at my watch and swore. I was running out of time, and no way could I risk waiting another day to get rid of Savannah’s stalker club. “Listen, sis. I really need your help. And I know what you’re going to say, but hear me out first, okay?”

Her eyebrows rose, but she nodded and started the car.

As we drove, I gave her a quick rundown about Savannah’s newest fans and how scared she’d looked. I might have played it up a little, but they had acted half crazed over her, and she’d seemed pretty upset at the end of class. “So, I need your help.”

“You want me to use my power to make them leave her alone?”