When Glitch got back from that trip, he was different. I couldn’t imagine what had happened on the camping trip that would cause Glitch to become clinically depressed in the second grade, but that was exactly what happened. I’d tried numerous times to find out, to try to get him to open up, but he refused to talk about it.
I’d only recently found out Cameron had anything to do with it, that he was on the camping trip as well. But Glitch knew how strong Cameron was, how indestructible. I could tell he was afraid of Cameron. Who could blame him? But lately he’d taken up the pastime of goading him, egging him on, practically begging him to start a fight. A fight he would be lucky to survive, though he’d probably be in a vegetative state the rest of his life.
And it was all about a girl.
I sighed in wonder. Glitch had feelings for Brooklyn, another fact I’d only recently discovered. I’d had no idea how he felt about her, that he had feelings for her at all other than friendship, until Cameron started paying attention to her. Now, it was all we could do to keep Glitch under control. Cameron could kill him with his pinkie, and he knew that better than anyone.
Brooke kneed me under the table and nodded toward Cameron. He’d stilled. He was looking past me, and when I turned, I realized he was staring at the new guy. He seemed to have made some friends. He was sitting at a table with some of the jocks, but they weren’t laughing or joking or even talking. They were just sitting there. All broody like.
Then the new guy’s gaze slid over to us and landed right on Cameron. The look on his face was one of glib amusement.
“What is going on with him, Cameron?” I asked.
But he didn’t answer. He just stared, his gaze calculating.
“He looks like a Neanderthal,” Glitch said. Then he turned back to Cameron. “You guys have to be related.”
Before anyone realized what he was going to do, Cameron grabbed Glitch by the front of his jacket and pulled him to his feet with one hand. Or, well, about six inches above his feet.
Glitch tried to fight him, but Cameron was nephilim. Which meant really tall. Really strong. And really fast.
“What do you know about it Glitch?” he said, the contempt in his voice evident in every syllable. “Did you learn nothing on that camping trip?”
“Cameron,” I said, my voice a harsh whisper, trying not to draw any attention from the teachers on duty. “Put him down this instant.”
Brooklyn took a hold of one of Cameron’s arms and was trying to pull him off Glitch. She would have had more luck trying to punch a hole in a cinder block wall with her fist.
Unfortunately, the only person in Riley’s Switch who stood a chance against Cameron was not there, and Glitch’s dark, coppery skin was turning a disturbing shade of red.
“Cameron!” I repeated a little louder.
“Excuse me.”
We all turned and saw Ashlee Southern standing there, tray in hand, a shy reverence sparkling in her eyes.
“May I join you?”
Glitch was making these awful choking sounds that didn’t so much stop when Cameron dropped him as become more guttural. Cameron didn’t give him another thought as he turned to us, his brows raised as though asking us if Ashlee could join us. As though he hadn’t been choking one of our best friends nigh to death.
I was the first to gather my wits. “Of course, Ashlee. Sit down.”
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything important,” she said as she put her tray next to Glitch’s.
I couldn’t help but notice the sympathetic glances she kept casting his way. Maybe she was worried about him, which was only natural. His wheezing did seem to be growing louder. Brooke placed a hand on his shoulder, but he shoved it away. It was so unlike him.
She gasped, taken aback, but decided to turn her wrath on Cameron. “What the heck was that about?” she asked him.
Cameron continued to direct his scowl at Glitch. “It was about the fact that Blue-Spider doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut.”
Cameron remembered Glitch’s real name only as a barb.
Glitch scoffed. “Why would anything I have to say bother you?” he asked, his voice hoarse. He looked over at the new guy, who was taking a singular interest in what was going on at our table. “Unless there’s something about this guy you aren’t telling us.”
Cameron seemed to calm then. “Just keep him away from Lor.”
“Then there is something you’re not telling us,” Brooke said, her eyes round with apprehension. “What is it?”
He settled back in his chair and clenched his teeth in frustration. “I told you before. He’s fuzzy around the edges.” Then he glanced at Ashlee, and I could tell he wasn’t sure what he could say in front of her.
“It’s okay,” Brooke said, “she’s trying to help us figure out what’s going on.”
After a moment, he gave in and said, “I’ve been sensing all kinds of abnormal activity for days. Stuff I couldn’t put my finger on. But the minute Neanderthal gets here, it stops. Everything stops and there’s just this low hum of energy, like when you hear the bass of a stereo before you can see the car. Something is coming, and I don’t know what.”
“So,” Brooke said, “he’s not a warlock?”
“A what?” When she took another bite of her salad, he asked, “Where did you get that idea?”
“It was just a thought.”
Cameron frowned at her. He was worried. He hadn’t touched his pizza. Something that never happened.