Lucie took a deep breath as she walked through the door of the wreck room. Her eyes were met with the sight of orange suits everywhere, some playing pool, some sitting around the television, some pushing each other around and some slouched down on the floor asleep. She immediately spotted Caveman sitting on the couch looking around. She closed the door behind her and started toward the far corner of the room. Caveman didn't see her until she was right in front of him.

"Hey, Caveman." She said sitting down next to him on the couch.

"Oh, hey Lucie. I was watching for you but I guess I kind of zoned out."

Lucie laughed. "So…"

"So…" Caveman nervously drummed his thumb against the couch beside him.

"Do you want to go play pool or foosball or something?"

Caveman shrugged one shoulder. "I would rather just talk."

"You want to go sit on the porch and talk?"

"Yea, sure."

The two got up from the couch and made their way to the door. Outside, the air was cooling off and the sun was almost behind the horizon. There were stars littering the sky and the moon was barely visible behind the mountains in the distance. Lucie sat down on the top step of the porch and Caveman hesitated before sitting down beside her. She noticed he didn't sit too close.

"Why are you here, Stanley?" she asked him right away.

"Depends on whose story you believe."

She turned to face him. "I believe your story."

"Then I'm here because of my family's curse. They tell me I stole a pair of shoes, but that's not what happened. They fell from the sky. Now, I know that sounds crazy but they really did. I don't know where they came from." He stopped and looked at Lucie to make sure she wasn't looking at him in disbelief. She wasn't, but instead was genuinely interested and was nodding understandingly, so he continued. "I never believed in the curse until I got sent here."

He explained the short version of the story behind the Yelnats curse. Lucie laughed occasionally and nodded showing she was listening to every word he said.

"Wow." She said when he had finished the story. "So you think that's why you're here?"

He shook his head. "I don't really know. All I know is that I didn't steal those shoes, but I'm here anyway, digging holes every day."

Lucie looked down at her feet and shifted uncomfortably. She felt a wave of guilt sweep over her. It was her aunt that was making him dig holes every day, despite his innocence. The warden, of course, didn't know he was innocent, but Lucie still felt guilty.

"Anyway…" Caveman began, "Tell me about you."

"What about me?"

"Why you're here exactly."

Lucie sighed. "My mom is the warden's sister. They don't talk much, but when my mom needs somewhere to drop me, Aunt Lou is always willing to take me. My mom goes from job to job, going wherever she's needed. She hears about some strange job off in Nowheresville and runs off to take it. I don't know what all she does when she's gone, but she can't take me with her. It's not like I'm not old enough to stay by myself for the summer, but it makes her feel less irresponsible to leave me with family."

"How many times have you been here?"

"This is my third time." Lucie said rolling her eyes.

"You sure you're family doesn't have a curse too?"

Lucie laughed and softly pushed against Caveman's shoulder with her own.

"You want to go back inside?" she asked him gesturing back to the door.

"I guess so." He stood up, almost reluctantly and stuck out his hand to help Lucie up.

"Hey, I was looking for you." Squid said, approaching Lucie when she walked through the door.

"Oh, I was just having a little heart to heart with Stanley."

Squid nodded and shifted the piece of wood that was in his mouth to the other side of his mouth.

"Squid!" ZigZag shouted from across the room. He held up a pool stick. "You coming?"

Squid shook his head and replied, "Y'all go on without me. I'll come back over there later."

Lucie shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "Did you need something?"

"Look Lucie, I just want to be your friend. Well, I'll admit I like you, but I can deal with just being your friend. I just want to talk to you and get to know you better."

She smiled at this but tried to hide it by looking down at the floor. She had to admit to herself she was oddly attracted to Squid. He seemed to be the bad boy type and was very forward about his feelings and that wasn't usually the type she went for. She knew she would somehow end up getting in trouble if she spent any real time with him.

Before she knew it, his hand was on her chin and he was slowly and softly raising it up.

"I saw that smile." He said grinning at her.

She allowed a real smile to spread across her face.

"So?"

Squid chuckled. "Does that mean you'll be my friend?"

"I thought we were already friends." Lucie said playfully.

"I did too, until you blew me off out on the lake today."

"I didn't."

"Yea you did. You just left me standing there."

Lucie thought back and remembered why she had done this.

"You just…" she trailed off but continued before he had a chance to urge her to continue. "You just kind of made me uncomfortable."

"I thought that might be it." He told her. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it."

"Hey warden's niece." Said a familiar voice. Lucie wasn't sure who it was but knew she had heard the voice. "I thought you said you weren't Squid's girl."

Squid and Lucie looked around and spotted Red looking at them, with Spok standing next to him.

She didn't reply but clinched her fists at her sides.

"Red, man, don't." Squid said shaking his head.

"What's the matter, Squid? Taking up for your little girlfriend?"

"Man, she told you she wasn't my girlfriend."

"I'm supposed to listen to a girl? Whatever."

Lucie's eyes narrowed and she took a step closer to Red. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Red looked amused. "It means you're probably just trying to protect your reputation. Good girls like you can't afford to be seen with guys like him."

"Who do you think you are?" Lucie shouted at him.

"Don't lose your temper with me, missy." Red took a step closer.

Squid stepped between them, facing Red. He pushed his chest, making Red stumble backwards.  "Leave her alone."

"Don't touch me, suck up. You think if you screw around with the warden's niece you'll get in good with her?"

Squid completely lost it. He dove at Red and tackled him to the floor. Lots of other boys jumped in, the B-tent boys trying to pull Red up and the D-tent boys trying to pull Squid up. Lucie gasped and put her hand over her mouth. She tried to help break up the fight but when she tried to move she found herself being held back by Caveman. He had a firm grip on her arm and was shaking his head at her.

Finally the boys succeeded and ZigZag stood in front of Squid pushing him backwards saying something to him to try to calm him down. Squid was looking over ZigZag's shoulder, glaring at Red.

Lucie shook Caveman off and quickly walked up beside ZigZag and Squid.

"Thanks, Zig." She said taking Squid's arm.

ZigZag nodded. "He'll be fine. Calm down, man." He walked away slowly, still watching Squid.

Squid looked at Lucie and then back up at Red, who was being dragged away by some of his friends.

Lucie moved more in front of him and put her other hand on his chest, softly pushing him backwards.

"Come on, let's go outside."

She kept a grip on his arm while they walked outside. He took a deep breath once outside and ran his hands through his hair.

"You ok?" Lucie asked, concerned. She stroked one of his arms and again put the other on his chest. She was standing very close to him and was aware of this, but she didn't move back.

He finally looked at her and also became aware of the fact that she was standing close to him, still stroking his arm.

"Yea, I'm ok." He whispered. "I'm sorry about that. I just lost my temper."

"I know. I appreciate you standing up for me."

He slowly raised his hand to her head and ran his hands through her hair. She closed her eyes moved in closer. She felt safe with him, even though she had just witnessed him beating up someone. It had been for her. He had risked his safety to take up for her when she was being insulted.

Before she knew what was happening, their lips were pressed firmly together. Chills shot down her spine and her stomach flipped over.

Squid softened the kiss and planted a series of short, soft kisses on her lips.

Lucie pulled back and caught her breath.

Just then a whistle blew and the sound of boots clumping across the wooden floor toward the door filled their ears.

Lucie allowed her hand to slip down his arm and his hand caught hers. She squeezed his hand and then let go.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

He nodded. "Goodnight."