eyebrow. “Dark arts? Don’t we all do that?”
I shook my head. “He means forbidden tactics—evil, twisted things.” She searched my eyes, and somehow I knew she didn’t quite get it. “We might not be good guys, but there are some things even we don’t do. Not all ninjas have the same code, though, and some are crueler than others.”
Dad continued his speech. “Protecting the Clan is of the utmost importance. Please guard yourselves and your identities with vigilance. If you notice anything strange in your sectors, do not hesitate to inform me directly. I have a vial of Spirit’s Grace for each of you and will keep you informed of any significant developments on the matter.”
Once he was finished, everyone broke into frantic whispers as we lined up to get our vials. I’d never seen so many ninjas with quivering lips and worried brows, but my dad never spoke so directly or gave so much information. This had to be really, really bad. He was genuinely worried for our safety, which meant that, as capable as we were, there were people out there who could kill us. I shuddered. I’d never thought much about my own mortality, but now I understood what it was like to fear for my life.
Amy grabbed my arm. “Okay, so maybe I’m scared about being a ninja now.”
“It’s okay to be scared.” I wrapped my arms around her. She only let go when we got to the front of the line.
We both took a vial from my dad, and I ignored the glare he gave us. What was I supposed to do? I couldn’t let Amy stand there scared all by herself. I wasn’t taking advantage of her. According to Marty, she was probably waiting for me to make a move.
I studied the white, iridescent liquid in my hand for a moment. The vial wasn’t bigger than my pinky finger, but it might save my life. I tucked it in my pocket, feeling a little safer.
We said our goodbyes to everyone, and Marty stayed behind to help Dad clean up. Amy and I hopped on a bus back to the dojo, sitting all the way at the back.
“You know, you’re like my best friend these days,” she said. My heart skipped when she glanced at me. How had I missed the fact that she was so incredible all these years? The quiet, pig-tailed eight-year-old had vanished, but she couldn’t have changed into the perfect girl overnight.
“Ditto.” I wanted to know if she liked me, but I was too chicken to ask.
She scooted closer. I wasn’t sure if I should reach out to her or not, so I just stayed there hoping she’d touch me again.
“You want to know a secret?” she asked.
“Sure.”
“Eddie’s a sweetheart, but he’s driving me nuts! He seems to think I like him or something.” She sighed. “I don’t think he’s picking up my signals.”
I smiled. “Eddie’s not so good with signals. You’ll have to tell him straight up.” I pictured her telling him to back off. Then maybe he would give up, and I wouldn’t be the worst friend in history for liking her so much.
“But that’s so mean! I don’t want to hurt his feelings.”
I sighed. So much for that. “Maybe send stronger signals?”
“Well, that got your paladin killed. I don’t think he liked me flirting with you.”
I gulped. “You mean your character flirting with mine.”
She shrugged. “Potato, potahto.”
I had no words. Had she admitted to flirting with me? Yes, yes she had. It felt like I was floating on mush. My head spun; my heart raced.
Then out of nowhere she took my hand. I probably had the goofiest grin on my face as I absorbed the feel of her palm against mine. This wasn’t pretending for the cops or trying to pin me in practice.
Amy was holding my hand because she wanted to.
She leaned her head on my shoulder for a second and then pulled back. Forget my dad’s advice. Forget Eddie and his crush. Marty was probably right—they’d get over it eventually. I pulled her close, and she put her head back where it was and laughed.
“This is nice,” she said.
“Yeah.”
I shook my head. “He means forbidden tactics—evil, twisted things.” She searched my eyes, and somehow I knew she didn’t quite get it. “We might not be good guys, but there are some things even we don’t do. Not all ninjas have the same code, though, and some are crueler than others.”
Dad continued his speech. “Protecting the Clan is of the utmost importance. Please guard yourselves and your identities with vigilance. If you notice anything strange in your sectors, do not hesitate to inform me directly. I have a vial of Spirit’s Grace for each of you and will keep you informed of any significant developments on the matter.”
Once he was finished, everyone broke into frantic whispers as we lined up to get our vials. I’d never seen so many ninjas with quivering lips and worried brows, but my dad never spoke so directly or gave so much information. This had to be really, really bad. He was genuinely worried for our safety, which meant that, as capable as we were, there were people out there who could kill us. I shuddered. I’d never thought much about my own mortality, but now I understood what it was like to fear for my life.
Amy grabbed my arm. “Okay, so maybe I’m scared about being a ninja now.”
“It’s okay to be scared.” I wrapped my arms around her. She only let go when we got to the front of the line.
We both took a vial from my dad, and I ignored the glare he gave us. What was I supposed to do? I couldn’t let Amy stand there scared all by herself. I wasn’t taking advantage of her. According to Marty, she was probably waiting for me to make a move.
I studied the white, iridescent liquid in my hand for a moment. The vial wasn’t bigger than my pinky finger, but it might save my life. I tucked it in my pocket, feeling a little safer.
We said our goodbyes to everyone, and Marty stayed behind to help Dad clean up. Amy and I hopped on a bus back to the dojo, sitting all the way at the back.
“You know, you’re like my best friend these days,” she said. My heart skipped when she glanced at me. How had I missed the fact that she was so incredible all these years? The quiet, pig-tailed eight-year-old had vanished, but she couldn’t have changed into the perfect girl overnight.
“Ditto.” I wanted to know if she liked me, but I was too chicken to ask.
She scooted closer. I wasn’t sure if I should reach out to her or not, so I just stayed there hoping she’d touch me again.
“You want to know a secret?” she asked.
“Sure.”
“Eddie’s a sweetheart, but he’s driving me nuts! He seems to think I like him or something.” She sighed. “I don’t think he’s picking up my signals.”
I smiled. “Eddie’s not so good with signals. You’ll have to tell him straight up.” I pictured her telling him to back off. Then maybe he would give up, and I wouldn’t be the worst friend in history for liking her so much.
“But that’s so mean! I don’t want to hurt his feelings.”
I sighed. So much for that. “Maybe send stronger signals?”
“Well, that got your paladin killed. I don’t think he liked me flirting with you.”
I gulped. “You mean your character flirting with mine.”
She shrugged. “Potato, potahto.”
I had no words. Had she admitted to flirting with me? Yes, yes she had. It felt like I was floating on mush. My head spun; my heart raced.
Then out of nowhere she took my hand. I probably had the goofiest grin on my face as I absorbed the feel of her palm against mine. This wasn’t pretending for the cops or trying to pin me in practice.
Amy was holding my hand because she wanted to.
She leaned her head on my shoulder for a second and then pulled back. Forget my dad’s advice. Forget Eddie and his crush. Marty was probably right—they’d get over it eventually. I pulled her close, and she put her head back where it was and laughed.
“This is nice,” she said.
“Yeah.”
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