Sarah sat with the rest of the Cliffhangers in the lodge. Most of them were pretending to do homework (although Scott and Shelby didn't even seem to be trying to fool anyone – they were too busy staring at each other), and Sarah was just blending in as usual. She was good at that. Sometimes she could disappear if she tried hard enough. People would forget she was even in the room. She was trying to do that now as she worked on her poem for English.
She scribbled hard on the page and threw the whole notebook aside. The noise disrupted Daisy who was studying for a math test. "Now, Sarah, taking your aggression out on the defenseless notebook isn't going to solve anything."
Sarah sighed. So much for disappearing. "Sorry."
"I like it when the newbies freak out." David was so easily distracted from homework. He took any excuse to act out. "Come on, get angry."
"Shut up," Sarah and Daisy exclaimed at the same time.
"Problem here?" Peter must have a sixth sense when it came to his students. He always appeared at the right moment.
David smirked and went back to his homework and Daisy shook her head.
"Sarah?"
"No. Everything's peachy." She couldn't disguise the sarcasm in her voice.
Peter ignored it. "Scott, Shelby, how about putting some space between you?" Scott slid about six inches from Shelby, and Peter continued. "Since I have all of you together, I have an announcement to make."
"Let me guess," interrupted Ezra, "we're going to do something that will promote emotional growth?"
"Yo, let him talk," scolded Auggie.
"Thank you Auggie. " Peter glanced around the room to make sure he had everyone's attention. "Since Sarah seems to be settling in just fine, I think it's time we had our first quest together." He waited for the groans to quiet down. "We leave at first light tomorrow. I suggest you all get a good night sleep." He started to leave but then turned back around, "and bring your English poems, I wouldn't want you to miss out on reading them."
So much for small favors. Sarah hadn't gotten anywhere on her poem. There was nothing that she wanted to reveal about herself in front of the Cliffhangers. She had written lots of poetry, but nothing she wanted to share. She picked up her notebook and started back to work. This wasn't going to be easy.
