I told Alan that he had won me over a long time ago, and then the lunch bell rang. He said he would call me that evening if he could.

With no homework, my backpack seemed light as I skipped down the stairs and walked across the school parking lot on my way home.

"Hey, Summer!" I heard someone call my sister's name. It sounded like Ronnie. "Do you want a ride?"

"No thanks, Ronnie," she replied cheerfully, and she sounded close behind me but I just kept walking. "I'll walk. But I'll call you tonight, okay?"

Silently in my head, I mocked her perky cheerleader voice.

"Hey kid, you gonna wait for me?"

I turned around slowly to see Summer walking briskly to catch up. There was a tiny, cautious smile on her face.

"What?" I demanded, but I started walking only when she was beside me.

"How was your first day?" she asked.

"Bite me Summer. Don't act like nothing happened." I glared at her. "If you want to call a truce, fine. But don't pretend everything is okay."

She held up a surrendering hand. "Okay. Sorry. I just want us to be sisters again."

I grumbled to myself. "We'll always be sisters, Summer."

"I've missed you. I kinda sorta love you, Lyric."

Laughing softly, I said, "Yeah, I like you as well. You're kinda neat." I looked up at her. "Did you really send Alan over to sit with me today?"

A grin lit up her elfin face and I couldn't help smiling back as I realized I had my sister back. "He was just SITTING there all depressed. And then I realized he was missing you. So I told him to go find you."

"Awww!" I giggled. "He's so cute!"

"You're kinda cute yourself when you're all happy and stuff."

"I can't believe you would do that for me after I'd called you a tramp." I shook my head in disbelief. "And considering how you like Alan too and all."

"I have Ronnie," she told me. "He treats me well. And you got me thinking. I do act a little…easy. And I am such a cow for leading guys on just because I know I can. Ronnie's a great guy and he deserves my respect."

I snickered. "Summer and Sunshine."

She threw her head back and laughed. "I know! Isn't that adorably obnoxious?" Putting her arm around my shoulders as we walked, she rested her cheek against my head. "I'm so glad we're friends again, Lyric."

"Me too," I agreed. "Now we just have to work on the Prince of Darkness."

"Who?"

"Sky!"

"Ohh!" She laughed. "I don't think you should call our brother the Prince of Darkness."

"Why not?"

"Because--Oh, go ahead."

"Hello?" I answered the phone, hopping up onto the counter. Uncle Bill never got mad at me for doing that, because he was too nice. My mom would have spazzed.

"Hello?" the called replied.

"Alan?"

"Lyric?"

"Are you trying to annoy me?"

"Yes, please."

I laughed, twirling the phone cord around my finger. "You'll have to try harder than that."

"I would, but I don't have enough time," he said in a rush. "Listen, my dad's gonna kick me off the phone right away, so I'm gonna tell hi I'm coming over to ask your uncle for help with my homework. Is that okay?"

"Are you asking me if it's okay that you're having an affair with my uncle?"

"You're a moron."

"I'm charmed."

"I want to see YOU. But my dad wants me to work on homework even though I don't have any, so I figure I can get away with seeing you since you live with Coach and my dad likes him."

"Well, I bet that required a lot of thinking."

"Actually, yes it did. It took all of Social class."

I was touched that I had been in Alan's thoughts for an entire class. So I giggled.

"Crap. My dad's yelling at me. If everything works out, I'll see you in about a half hour?"

"Sounds like a plan," I said. When I hung up, I did a little dance.