Undertow by Michael Buckley Page A

property belongs to the people. It’s valuable real estate, and the taxpayers want it back. The amusement parks that used to operate there brought in millions in tax revenue. They were a cultural and historic treasure.”
    Bex laughs. “Cultural and historic treasure? The most popular attraction was an open field where people paid five bucks to shoot paint balls at a dirty clown.”
    A buzzing drowns out the crowd when the Selkie Guards arrive, which, like yesterday, gob-smacks the crowd. Next come Terrance Lir and the six Alpha students. They rush up the front steps with the help of two dozen soldiers. As they pass, I spot the prince and we lock eyes. I can’t read what he’s thinking, but his female friend’s glare could melt me in my shoes. Is she his girlfriend? She must be. Only a girlfriend would act that territorial.
    Bachman charges up the steps after them and blocks the doors, and like yesterday two cops follow and arrest her. Another win for her! The crowd demands her release. A few surround the squad car they place her in before officers start blasting them in the face with pepper spray. All the anger that was aimed at the Alpha is now focused on the police and soldiers.
    My father takes my hand. “Lyric—”
    â€œDad, don’t worry. I know what I have to do. No more trouble.”
    He nods. “Be careful.”
    â€œLike it’s my middle name,” I promise.
    When Irish Tommy gives the word, Bex and I run for it. Today I manage to make it inside catfish-free.
    Shadow is already waiting for us outside Ervin’s class. He does a double-take when he sees Bex. She’s all legs and blue eyes, a high school supermodel with a dress that barely covers her butt.
    â€œYo,” he says just after he wipes the googly eyes off his face.
    â€œWhat do you think?” she says, giving him a twirl. The beading lights up like fireworks.
    He shrugs.
    She growls and stomps into Ervin’s room.
    â€œYou’re not fooling anybody,” I whisper in Shadow’s ear.
    He shakes his head and quietly mouths the words, “I’m fooling her.”
    I can’t help but grin. He is lovestruck. I see it in the way he laughs at her jokes and how he stares when she isn’t paying attention. He looks for her when she is not nearby, and when she’s with him he smiles like my father does when my mother walks into the room. But he’s got game. This boy knows what he’s doing. He’s driving her crazy with indifference. I just wish his little plan wasn’t taking so long.
    â€œJust tell her!” I beg.
    â€œI’m waiting for her to tell me first,” he says, then saunters down the hall.
    â€œI need to get caught up in some true love right now, even if I’m riding in the sidecar,” I shout to him.
    Homeroom is shell-shocked—no dancing, no throwing stuff, no fronting. Everyone sits face forward, feet on the floor, quiet as houses. Deshane is missing in action, and since he is captain of the troublemakers, his crew looks adrift. Gabriel, however, is pissed. He comes in just before the bell rings and won’t even look at me. He keeps his eyes on the floor, like the meaning of life is written on his Doc Martens.
    â€œSomeone’s got the boo-boo face,” Bex says, nodding toward Gabriel.
    â€œI sort of led him to believe he was going to get lucky last night,” I mutter.
    She looks back at him and laughs. “Poor guy. Where did he take you this time?”
    â€œA bird-crap-covered rooftop above a furniture store,” I say.
    â€œAnd that wasn’t good enough? Geez, Princess Lyric! What will please you?”
    I catch his eye. He scowls, then gives his attention back to his shoes. Funny, yesterday I would have been panicked about him being mad at me. Today, I’ve got bigger problems.
    Mr. Ervin enters with the soldier, Luna, and, much to my surprise, Ghost. The class murmurs as the Nix struts across