“I know,” Lilith said. “There is something I thought you might be able to help with. See, Bruce is feeling better, and I want to keep it that way. You know so much about the environment, I thought maybe you could help me make some changes around my house.”
Mrs. Richards’s eyes softened as she studied Lilith. “I’m a big believer that we can all change our world for the better, but sometimes, Lilith, these things are out of our control. I know how sick Bruce gets. I just don’t want you to expect a miracle.” She smiled, and Lilith could tell her teacher felt genuinely bad for her. “Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to throw out any harsh cleaning products, and start cooking good, wholesome meals for the whole family. Homemade chicken soup. Iron-rich leafy greens. That sort of thing.”
Lilith nodded. “I’ll do that.” She didn’t know where she would get the money. Ramen noodles were her mom’s idea of a good, wholesome meal. But she would find a way. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” Mrs. Richards said as Lilith moved toward the door to head to history class. “You still have detention this afternoon. But maybe we can try to make it your last.”
As Lilith stepped outside after detention, the huge student parking lot was empty. It gave the school a ghostly feel. Ash gathered like gray snow along the curb, and Lilith wondered if she would ever see or smell or taste real snow. She walked toward the edge of campus, putting on her headphones, listening to some old Four Horsemen songs about broken hearts and dreams.
She was used to being one of the last kids to leave school—detention let out after soccer practice ended and the choir went home for the day—but she never really stopped to look around as she left campus. A sharp wind had loosed several of the prom court posters from the walls of the school. They swirled around the pavement like fallen leaves wearing her classmates’ faces.
The sun was going down, but it was still hot. The wildfires on the hills seemed fiercer than usual as Lilith neared the cluster of trees marking the entrance to Rattlesnake Creek. She hadn’t been to her spot in a few days, and she wanted a quiet place to study for her biology quiz before she headed home.
She heard a rustling in the trees and looked around but didn’t see anyone. Then she heard a voice.
“I knew you couldn’t stay away.” Luc appeared between the carob trees. His arms were crossed, and he was looking up through the branches at the smoky sky.
“I can’t talk right now,” Lilith said. There was something strange about the intern, and it wasn’t just the stabbing memory of opening that envelope and seeing her emailed lyrics inside. Why was he hanging out at Trumball so much anyway? This internship couldn’t require his presence here full-time.
Luc smiled. “I’ll make it quick. I just got off the phone with Ike Ligon, and I thought you might be interested in our conversation.”
Without meaning to, Lilith stepped toward him.
“As you know,” Luc said, “the Four Horsemen are coming to town to play at prom and judge the Battle of the Bands. Now, I know all the cool kids are going to Chloe’s after-party, but—”
“I’m not going to Chloe’s after-party,” Lilith said.
“Good.” Luc smiled. “Because I was thinking I’d have a few people back to my place afterward. Something intimate. Would you like to come?”
“No, thanks—”
“Ike Ligon will be there,” Luc said.
Lilith inhaled sharply. How could she pass up an opportunity to spend time with Ike Ligon? She could ask him where he got the ideas for his songs, what his approach to writing music was…It would be like a crash course in rock-stardom.
“Yeah, okay.”
“Great,” Luc said. “Just you, though. Not Cam. I heard you let him into your band. Personally, I think that’s a career mistake.”
“I get it, you hate Cam.” Lilith wondered how Luc had heard this news. It had only happened this morning, and he didn’t even go to school with them.
“He’s got a reputation,” Luc said. “He’s been around the block. He’s been under the block. I mean, look at that guy. You know the saying live fast, die young, and leave an attractive corpse? I guess old Cam is proving the lie to that. His sins are wearing him down—he even looks like a sinner.”
“I hear looks are only skin-deep,” Lilith said.
“With skin like Cam’s, I hope so.” Luc laughed. “King Media also caught wind that Cam was the one who submitted your lyrics to the contest. If he did it without your approval, that would be grounds for disqualification.”
“It’s okay,” Lilith said, realizing quickly that she didn’t want to be disqualified. “He, um, had my approval. Can I ask you something?”
Luc raised an eyebrow. “Anything.”
“It seems like you and Cam have history. What is it with you two?”
Luc’s gaze burned into Lilith as his voice went icy cold. “He thinks he’s the exception to every rule. But some rules, Lilith, must be followed.”
Lilith swallowed. “It sounds like you do go back a ways.”