Chapter 23

"You might be getting ready for that little duel, but you're going to have to do something before it," says Pike as we watch the two freaks walk away and disappear around the corner.

"And what could that be?" I ask. I walk over to the gym and push the doors open. Stepping in, I see Dane look up from his lunch bag and smile from the bleachers.

I remember how I have a date with him.

"Oh, that," I say as Pike walks up next to me.

"Don't lie," he says as Dane stands up and makes his way over to me.

He waves and walks over to the bleachers. Ves and Jack give a thumbs-up, and Mia gives me a pat.

"You've done worse," she says.

And she too walks over to the bleachers. They pull out their own lunch bags and start eating. I just stand still as Dane walks up to me.

"Hey," he says nicely.

He stops in front of me, and as he comes to a stop the air moves and his smell washes over me. Is he wearing cologne? I like that smell though.

"Hi," I say back. I try to smile, but it comes out strained. And he