Chapter 31: Frenemy

I WAS PREPARED TO face Zander and his lying - albeit very attractive - uh, lips, however, he was a no-show that day. I'd been nervous for nothing. I didn't have to deal with him or whatever story he was going to concoct to explain the strangest day of my life. Disappointment, gratitude, and confusion swirled around me as I shut my locker and headed toward Ruthie's. She met me halfway, questions in her eyes.

"So, was he in class?" she asked.

"Not here," I replied.

"Son of a butcher," she swore.

Zander wasn't the only one MIA today. Isaac and Phoebe missed class, too. When I asked Ruthie about it, she shrugged it off as normal for them. Apparently, they missed school a lot last year, too.

Suddenly, a dark shadow rounded the corner and pounced with a "Raaahwl!" We both jumped, completely caught off guard, screaming instinctively, which in turn startled our attacker, Val, enough that he jumped back into the lockers with a loud clang.

"That was awesome!" guffawed a deep voice from