My legs give out and I collapse into a messy heap on the tiled floor, a huge tired smile on my face.
—Do you feel as good as I do, Sparkles?—
—Yes, Max. Yes—
26
Maximus sends a Fateball slamming into the floating net, and I let out a whoop.
“Eat ball, Farrington!”
Love this game.
When we’ve killed the Conclave, banished the dark energy to the void, oh, and rescued any other children that need rescuing, I really hope Fateball still exists.
Alexis blows his whistle. “That’s time, go shower.”
As he walks past me, I decide it’s the perfect moment to try something new I’ve been working on.
Whack.
“What the fuck, Hart?” he yells, stumbling to one side.
“Dude,” I hiss. “It’s our new secret greeting. Shoulder slam, then knuckles into sparkle-fingers.”
“Hardly a secret if the greeting involves knocking someone on to the floor.”
Oh, right. He has a point.
“OK, secret greeting was the wrong description-thingy. It’s just our regular dap. Feniks? Are you listening.”
He’s walking away so I run to catch up.
“Donovan, can you remember that we are not supposed to be friends,” he hisses.
Pfft.
“I know that, but it’s called ‘acting’. We can do our thing when no one is around.”
“Which is not here, and not now,” he mumbles, walking away.
“See you tonight,” I call after him.
Tonight is our first war council.
I’m excited to see the new tunnel, and I’m dead jelly that Max got invited into Ludo’s lair. Seem like Maximus and the bull have become bros.
I know I have Wes, when he’s alive and not a zombie, and Cosmo loves me the best of everyone, but I’m a little sad I haven’t gained a new bestie out of this whole thing too.
Maybe little Dunc?
My shoulders slump. Nah, Max got himas well!They nerd out about online stuff all the time—boring.
So, that leaves me with the Professor, who is already Max’s cousin, and Willow.
Willow it is.
I bet she’ll be into our new salute. A new recruit for the new salute.
