Riley’s hand fell away from her hair, her gaze dropping to the table. ‘Um, I guess. If that’s what you think.’
Justin knew that if this conversation was a football, he had carried it into a wall of defenders, and would now have to scramble to find another route. He needed something else to talk about.
‘Look at Daniel and Debi!’ he said, pointing across the diner. ‘They’re not on a date, are they? They’re just hanging out. Just like we are . . .’
Although . . . Justin’s eyes narrowed as he looked across at his twin, who was wearing his usual scruffy black clothing and sitting across a table from Riley’s friend Debi. With his brooding rock-musician style, Daniel might look like the polar opposite of perky cheerleader Debi, but the two of them weren’t just sharing a meal. They’d gone to see that new Jackson Caulfield movie, The Groves, earlier, too.
I’ve scrambled into another tackle, he thought. Those two are definitely on a date, which means that Riley must think we are, too!
‘Um, Justin?’ Riley’s voice broke into his panic. ‘You seem a little nervous.’
‘Me? Nervous? No way!’ Justin grabbed the last of his hamburger and took a huge bite. ‘I don’t get nervous,’ he said, through his mouthful. Then he looked down at his empty plate, and almost choked again.
‘Oh,’ said Riley. ‘I thought it was nerves making you gobble your food like a ravenous wolf.’
Wolf!
If only, Justin thought, and sighed. That would make my life so much easier! As the only non-werewolf playing Offense on Pine Wood Junior High’s football team, he had to do everything he could to bulk up his ordinary human body and make himself stronger. But he couldn’t explain that to Riley. That would be the exact opposite of guarding the secret of werewolves’ existence, which no one was supposed to know. The only reason Justin knew was because his dad was a werewolf – and until a month ago, he’d always expected to become one, too.
But the ‘Lupine gene’ in the family had scrambled away from Justin, towards his twin brother.
‘I’m just trying to pile on the calories,’ he mumbled. ‘For the Homecoming Game next week.’
Luckily, the mention of Homecoming had been enough to spark off Riley’s famous Organisational Mode. She sat bolt upright, her eyes gleaming with excitement. ‘Can you believe it’s only a week away now? There is so much left to do! I’ve been planning and planning, but –’
‘You, planning? Never.’ Justin shook his head at her, grinning. ‘You know, there’s going to be some epic homework this year. Why don’t you go easy on yourself, and take the year off from being Pine Wood’s Chief Organiser?’
Riley just looked at him. Then they both burst into laughter.
Date or no date, Justin had known Riley since kindergarten, and knew that the day that she didn’t organise anything and everything in her path would be the day that every big, tough werewolf on the football team requested lettuce and cucumber sandwiches for their pre-game meal.
‘Let me tell you what I’ve been thinking . . .’ Riley began.
A sudden tug at Justin’s wrist made him jump. When he glanced down, he blinked twice, just to make sure he was really seeing what he thought he saw.
Daniel?
Justin’s twin was crouched beside his booth, out of sight of Riley, who was busy pulling out two different clipboards from her shoulder bag. When Justin opened his mouth to speak, Daniel shook his head violently and held one finger to his mouth. Then he pointed at the door with a gesture that clearly meant: Outside. Now!
Justin nodded. Still disbelieving, he watched Daniel stoop-walk away.
His not-a-date must be going even worse than my not-a-date.
Luckily, Riley didn’t seem to have noticed any of the byplay. All of her focus was centred on the points she was ticking off her first three-page-long list.
‘. . . and of course, the Homecoming Dance has to be absolutely perfect, so –’
‘Wait, what?’ Justin blinked. ‘The Dance ? I thought you were putting in to organise stuff for the Homecoming game !’
‘Have you forgotten who you’re talking to?’ Riley rolled her eyes at him. ‘I’m volunteering for both, obviously.’
‘Obviously.’ Justin shook his head. ‘I should have known.’
As their gazes met, Justin felt himself go dizzy for a moment. There was a light in her eyes that pulled him in, making him want to lean across the table towards her and . . .
Get a grip, cub! It was what Coach Johnston told the football players when they lost focus. Justin took a deep breath, shaking off the sudden urge to throw aside everything he’d planned and make it a real date after all.
He’d promised Daniel to meet him outside. His twin needed him! And he needed to keep himself on-target. Remember that pre-date training?
‘I’ll be right back,’ he told Riley as he stood up. ‘OK?’
‘Oh. OK.’ She settled back, her lips curving down in what looked like disappointment. By the time Justin had reached the door of the diner, though, he could see her bent over her Homecoming list again, totally absorbed.
He found Daniel hiding around the corner of the Meat & Greet, out of sight of the windows – in the doorway of a thrift store that seemed to specialise in dusty hardback books and too-colourful charm bracelets. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Finally!’ Daniel’s eyes looked wild. ‘You have to save me. Look!’ He rolled up the long sleeve of his black shirt, emblazoned with the scrawled logo for his band, In Sheep’s Clothing. Thick hair had sprouted all across his arms. A clear sign of panic in any teenage werewolf.
Justin winced in sympathy, forgetting his own problems. ‘I guess Debi’s been driving you lupe-y, huh?’ Then he laughed at his own joke.
‘Will you take this seriously?’ Daniel glared at him, rolling his sleeve down. Then he rolled it back up again to itch at the back of one hand. ‘I am in deep trouble! If I have to sit across from her for one more minute, hair’s going to start sprouting on my hands and face, too.’
Justin could see Daniel’s canine teeth growing as he flipped out. ‘How are you ever going to have a real date with Debi if you turn into a wolf every time you’re around her?’
‘I’ll find a way around it,’ Daniel said. ‘Somehow.’ His shoulders slumped. ‘I just need to have a few more practice dates, you know?’
Justin did know. ‘So . . .’ Justin raised his eyebrows. ‘What are you planning to do today? Make an escape?’
‘I’m not going to just ditch her,’ Daniel said. ‘That would be mean. My date will continue . . .’ He looked at Justin, his face set with determination.
Justin’s
