The Soulkeepers Box Set by G.P. Ching

Author:G.P. Ching [Ching, G.P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-12-10T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Planning Committee

Malini tossed her orange tray down across from Jacob and Dane. At some point during the school year, they’d migrated to Dane’s table with Amy Barger and Phillip Westcott. When Amy broke up with Dane, she defected to Jacob and Malini’s old table with her girlfriends. Phillip, who had never fully accepted the Dane-Jacob friendship, remained at the table but he and Mike perched on the end with a full two-person gap between his section and theirs. It was pretty clear that there was still a line in the sand. Dane was just on the other side of it.

“Good news, Jacob. I think my dad is ready to un-ground me. At breakfast, I mentioned studying together this week and he didn’t freak out,” Malini said.

“So, he said, ‘Yes?’”

“Not exactly. He sort of tilted his head to the side. But it wasn’t a no.” She grinned, taking a bite of her salad.

“How was Springfield?”

“Good actually. My dad and I hardly fought at all.”

“Cool.”

“By the way, thank you for coming by Saturday night.”

“You’re welcome,” Dane and Jacob said together.

Malini looked back and forth between the two of them. “I meant Jacob, Dane.”

“Oh,” Dane said. “Sorry … I thought, because I was there and you were still grounded…”

“I came by anyway,” Jacob said curtly. “Later.” He gave Dane some seriously hostile eye contact.

“Will you guys chill? Please?” Malini asked. “Can you come by again tonight, Jake?” Malini asked.

“I don’t think I can,” Jacob said. “Something happened Saturday night. Something I need to tell you about.”

Malini leaned forward just as Dane did until she realized Phillip had stopped eating and was watching them suspiciously.

“Maybe there’s a better place for this conversation,” Malini whispered, tilting her head in Phillip’s direction.

Jacob became interested in his meatloaf. Dane shifted in his seat. The instant quiet was as suspicious as the huddling had been. Thankfully, Dane came up with alternative conversation.

“Have you guys thought about prom?” he asked, louder than necessary.

“Do we need to think about it now? It isn’t until May, right?” Malini said, rolling her eyes. Jacob glared at her. It was a sore subject.

“True, but it’s the end of March. They’re starting the planning committee. I thought we could all, you know, work on it together.”

Jacob pressed a finger to his lips and squinted at Dane incredulously. “You want to join the prom committee?”

Thinking it was a joke, Malini burst out laughing, but stopped when she noticed the look on Dane’s face.

He lowered his voice again, a blush forming on his cheeks. “Since I broke up with Amy, there’s no one to go with. The committee would be an excuse for me to be there alone. You know, you guys have each other but I’m kind of on my own here.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Malini said. “You’re the most popular boy in our class.”

Dane swallowed a gulp of his lemonade. “Not anymore.”

Jacob and Malini exchanged looks. It was true. Befriending them had cost him his reputation.

“Prom committee sounds fun,” Malini said. When Jacob didn’t say anything, she kicked him under the table.

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