“Betterthan we thought,” Emma crowed.
“Okay, this seals it.” Tyler tugged on the back of his neck. “We can’t let anyone else find out about the Darkdeep. It might be dangerous.”
“We have to guard it,” Opal said. “Keep the whole island secret.”
“Guardians.” Emma’s eyes rounded. “Oh man, we’re going to need a cool name. What about the Darkdeep Keepers? No, no! The Whirling Well Watchers! Triple Dubs for short?”
Nico ignored her. “So that’s it, huh? We’re responsible for it now. And everything inside this boat.”
Opal nodded. “Just us four. Assuming we’re done arguing about whether I’m allowed to be here or not?”
Nico chuckled sheepishly. “What would we do without you?”
He stuck out his hand, palm down. Opal blinked, then covered it with her own. Tyler slapped his on next, followed by Emma’s two-handed grip over the top. The four of them stood there, linked, facing off in the center of the silent showroom.
Tyler shuffled his feet. “Should, like, one of us say something?”
Nico grinned. “Sure. Go ahead.”
“I was hoping you would.” He looked at Emma, but she shook her head, giggling.
Nico glanced at Opal. Her eyes were gleaming.Is she crying?
“Opal?” he asked. “You have anything?”
She sniffed once, then smiled brilliantly. “I think we covered it, right?”
They all dropped their hands, bursts of laughter echoing up to the dusty rafters.
14
OPAL
A cute ninth grader strode down the hall toward Opal.
Cute ninth grader Evan Martinez, to be exact. “Opal Walsh?” he said.
“Yup.”Why did I just say “yup”?!?she chided herself, but also, he knew her name! She hitched her backpack higher. “Hi, Evan.”
“Your mom’s waiting in the front office. I’m supposed to come get you.”
“Oh. Great.”
She didn’t know whether to be mad at her mom for dropping by the school, or pleased she got to walk with Evan Martinez. He was wearing his soccer uniform. She hoped everyone saw.
Ooh! Maybe Evan Martinez could show up as a figment one day.
No. Tyler and Nico would crush her for it. Emma might understand.
When they arrived at the office, Evan held the door for her. “Thanks,” Opal said.
“No problem.” He sat down behind the STUDENT AIDE placard. Opal had a sudden desire to apply to be a student aide.
“Opal!” Kathryn Walsh called. “Hello, sweetie.”
“Hey, Mom.” Opal tore her gaze from Evan, who was stapling papers in a very arresting way. “Everything okay?”
“Weren’t you expecting me?” Kathryn opened the door for Opal and they walked out into the hall. “Today’s the pageant orientation meeting. It’s in the auditorium right now.”
