Skye

At around five thirty, I sat on the front steps and waited for Jeffrey to come out. I reflected on what my feelings were. If I decided I liked him, I would tell him so when he came out. If I didn't, that's what I'd tell him. If I was undecided by five fifty-nine, I'd hide and leave Jeffrey a note.

I reflected back to something Jane had written in one of her Sabrina Starr books.

Love is a union where the heart, mind, and body of two people fit in equal measure.

After fifteen minutes of hating Sabrina Starr for being so cryptic, the screen door opened. My head whipped around to see Jeffrey, leaning against the doorframe, looking nervous out of his mind. "So, you wanted to talk?"

I sighed and leaned my head against the column I had been sitting next to. "I was hoping for some extra time."

He sat down beside me. "Look, I've given it some thought, and I realized that I might have surprised you with the whole kiss thing. I'm sorry. I shouldn't kiss people without asking."

I glanced over at him. "Did you, um, like the kiss?"

He smiled. "On a scale of one to ten? About a zillion."

"Zillion's not a number, genius." I rolled my eyes, using sarcasm to give me a second to get my thoughts in order. "I'm not sure how I felt about it. After the whole mess with Danny, I've been…" I searched for the right word.

"Not exactly in rare form." Jeffrey laughed.

I rolled my eyes. "You're making me sound like steak."

"Well, you are the veal deal." A cheesy grin spread across his face.

I was so messed up with emotion that it took me a second to catch the joke. "You're a ham." I scoffed.

Jeffrey doubled over laughing. I smiled as he sat up with effort. "So, you don't have beef with me anymore?"

He was still smirking when I said, "No, I guess not, Porky. Come on, let's go get some breakfast."

I stared at the phone in my hand, the number I had memorized over the past week blinking. I sighed and glared at Rosalind. "Do I have to?

"No, but it will help Iantha and Daddy. "

I sighed and hit SEND. After three rings, someone picked up. "Hello?"

"Danny, please don't hang up. Just give me thirty seconds of your time." I said.

"I'm not taking you back." He growled.

I rolled my eyes. "Sure. Perfect. I don't care, but I need a favor."

He gave a bitter laugh. "Why should I help you?"

This was the golden question. I winced and met Rosalind's eyes. Rosalind mouthed, Paint balloon. I grinned at the memory. "I caught Jacob's paint balloon for you. Aren't you allergic to paint?"

Danny winced. "Okay, what's the favor?"

I smirked and said, "Can you be at Antonio's Pizza at five thirty? I want you to start an argument with me there."

Danny sighed. "I suppose telling me why would ruin whatever you're doing at Antonio's."

"No, I can tell you. It's to give me a reason to leave the table." I explained the problem.

When Danny spoke, there was pain in his voice. "There's something I haven't told you. My parents are getting a divorce. They told me yesterday afternoon, just before I came over."

I winced at the hated word. "I'm so sorry, Danny." I'd met Danny's parents. They had started arguing so often that Danny sometimes had to spend the night at his friend's houses.

"Even if I still think there was something going on between you and Jeffrey, I'm going to do all I can to save your parent's relationship. I'll be there."

Tears of relief burned in my eyes. "Thanks."

I hung up the phone, blinking the tears from my eyes. I cracked my knuckles. "So, I'll start a fight with Danny, and we'll go outside. Jeffrey follow, and Jane will ask some of her friends to Antonio's. Jane will go off with her friends, dragging Batty along. Ben will use the bathroom, and you will escort him."

"Yes." Rosalind said. "And I'll have the most difficult role: making sure that Iantha looks beautiful."