Misfits Like Us (Like Us #11)(31)

Xander studies the double doors. “Easton said he’d meet up inside.”

“Mordor doesn’t sound all that bad,” I say, trying a different tactic. My flight or fight instincts are a bit wonky. Sometimes I flee. Sometimes I fight.

Mostly I float these days.

Xander seems conflicted. He usually flees and hides, but ever since he’s been boxing with Farrow, Thatcher, and Banks, I know he’s tested his limits even more. Like going to Dalton Academy.

I don’t want to be the person who encourages fleeing—even though I technically already did. My stomach unsettles. Sometimes I wonder if I fail at being a good sister, too. Like maybe this is another thing on the Luna Can’t Do Anything Right checklist.

“Okay, how about this,” I say quickly, just spitting out ideas now. “I’ll create a distraction with the Pink Power Ranger and her friends while you and Donnelly slip inside.”

This plan causes both Frog and Donnelly to spin on their heels and face us. My toes ache from standing on the tips, but I keep course.

“Say what?” Donnelly eyes me. He’s still taller, even on my tiptoes.

“Distraction?” Frog tilts her head, considering. “I like this idea.”

“Yeah, it might work,” Xander bobs his head. I think he’d take any plan that allowed him safe passage into Room G. “What do you have in mind, Luna?”

Okaaay, so I haven’t exactly thought that far yet. “It’s a surprise,” I say confidently. I smile like I’m Eliot or Tom, up to no good, but really it’s just a mask. Covering up the fact that I have no clue what I’m doing.

Isn’t confidence just a costume we all put on? Something to wear now and again. I effortlessly slip into it like I’m in one of Eliot’s plays.

Donnelly surveys the area. “I dunno, Hale.” His gaze returns softly to me. “I don’t much like surprise distractions.” He seems…worried?

I give an optimistic thumbs-up.

He points a thumbs-down.

I touch his hand, just to shift his thumb in the upright position. His eyes never shift off mine, and Donnelly encases his hand over my knuckles, pulling my thumb inwards. He’s holding my hands in his hands—and he’s turning my thumb downward.

And then Frog speaks. “I’ll radio in if we encounter any problems.”

He slowly lets go of my hands, listening to her.

She adjusts her earpiece. “Plus, we have three other temps watching our backs, Donnelly. We’ll be fine.”

“We’ll be fine,” I repeat like a mantra, and before anyone can change my mind, I leave Xander’s side. Frog is next to me, and together, we approach the Pink Power Ranger and the ten or fifteen other teenage girls gathered around her.

“Hiya,” I give a rainbow-wave. “Howdy ho.”

Pink Power Ranger pops off her helmet, brown hair cascading and freckled cheeks a little flushed. “Oh my gosh. You’re Luna Hale.”

“No, I’m Pixie.”

She rolls her eyes. “We know you’re Luna Hale. Could you like tell your brother to come talk to us? Ohmygosh, he’s coming over here!” She squeals, and I sidestep to block her. Xander is planning to bypass the girls for the door. But she doesn’t know that yet.

Pink Power Ranger drills a frustrated glare. “What are you doing? You’re in my way.” She tries to hoist her phone, but I’m up on my tiptoes again.

“Did you know that I have this hallucinogenic dust?” I reach into a pouch tied to my beltloop and fish out a fistful of glitter.

“Move.” Pink Power Ranger is about to bump me, but before a finger touches my shoulder, Frog slips between us and takes the minimal force from Pink Power Ranger’s push.

“Watch your hands,” Frog says conversationally.

Pink Power Ranger scoffs. “Seriously? Watch my hands? She’s the one who got into my space. I’m just trying to film a fucking video.”

“Whoa,” I say. “I’m just showing you my dust.”

She gives me a look like I’m out of my mind.

I toss the glitter in the air. Over my own head, so I don’t get any on her. I’m not that mean. It’s about a C-minus distraction because she’s still looking past my shoulder.

“Hallucination dust!” I announce loudly.

This causes heads to swerve in my glittery direction. I’d roast head-to-toe if I embarrassed easily. I don’t. I just keep throwing glitter on myself, and I yell again, “Haaa-LU-CInation. DUST!”

“Oh my God,” Pink Power Ranger says in disbelief. “Are you broken or something?”

“Maybe she needs a full reboot?” Someone else from the crowd laughs.

“Maybe scrap her for parts.”

“Hey,” Frog snaps. “Fuck off, you jerks.” She grabs my hand quickly and leads me towards the double doors. None of the girls follow us, and I wonder if they have no interest in LOTR. As soon as we approach, the coordinator raises a hand to stop, and I realize why they’ve stayed outside.

“We’re full,” she says and then squints harder like she might recognize me. The pink wig doesn’t help.

“Luna Hale,” Frog says.

The lady’s face morphs into an ahhh expression. “Right.” She opens the door. “The panel is just starting, so keep your voices low.”