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The librarian waves fro oak desk She’s just out of library school and has cat’s-eye glasses in every color of the rainbow Several losers put downup with her thened

"Good to have you back, Cassel," she says

"Good to be back, Ms Fiske" Once spotted, I figure the best I can ures out I’ money--a total of three thousand dollars--is hidden between the pages of a big leather-bound onomasticon I’ve kept it there for the last two years without incident No one ever touches it but me My only fear is that the book will be culled, since no one ever uses an onoford keeps it because it looks expensive and obscure enough to reassure visiting parents that their kids are learning genius-type stuff

I open the book and slide out six hundred dollars, poke around for a couple ofsome Renaissance poetry, and then slink back to the dorm, where Sam’s supposed to meet me As I step off the stairs and into the hall, Valerio walks out of his rooe to the side, into the bathrooainst the hile waiting fornor as no one sees you doing so, there’s no reason to be humiliated Valerio doesn’t follow I text Sa "What a clandestine spot for a h it up" There’s no rancor in h Just relief

"The coast is clear," he says "The eagle has flown the coop The cow stands alone"

I can’t help s out the money from my pocket "You are a master of deception"

"Hey," he says "Can you teachI wanted to take bets on? And what’s the deal with the point spreads on the ga it the way they say online"

"It’s co What I ainst the sink "We Asians are all h?"

"Sure," he says, and I wonder if he’s already planning to cut ure I can probably screw hi to plan it just makes me tired

Sam counts the money carefully I watch him in the mirror "You knohat I wish?" he asks when he’s done

"What?"

"That soht other bed robots to the death for h out of me "That would be pretty awesome"

A slow, shy smile spreads across his mouth "And we could take bets on theainst the fra at the tile wall and the pattern of yellowed cracks there, and grin "I take back anything I enius"

I’ friends I et invited to parties and I can sit at any table I want in the cafeteria

But actually trusting soain frootiations of power

Like, okay, Philip has this best friend, Anton Anton is Lila’s cousin; he came down to Carney with her in the sum whatever liquor they could get out of the locals and working on their cars

Anton’shi male relative Anton made sure that Philip knew that if Philip wanted to work for the fa for Anton Their friendship was--and is--based on Philip’s acknowledge and Philip’s ready to follow his lead

Anton didn’t like me because ment of his status

One tirand over so He pulled ize, you little pervert," he said

It was true that all the pushing and shoving was et kicked around than adloved hands

"Your father sent me down here to keep an eye on you," he said "He wouldn’t want you spending all your time with this deviant He’s not even one of us"

"You don’t tell me what to do," Lila told him "Ever"

He looked back down at me "How about I tell you what to do, Cassel? Get down on your knees That’s how you’re supposed to act in front of a laborer princess"

"Don’t listen to hi to rise when he kicked me in my shoulder I fell back onto my knees

"Stop it!" she yelled

"Good," he said "Nohy don’t you kiss her foot? You know you want to"

"I said leave him alone, Anton," said Lila "Why do you have to be such a jerk?"

"Kiss her foot," he said, "and I’ll let you up" He was nineteen and huge My shoulder hurt andI leaned forward and pressed myearlier that day; her skin tasted like salt

She jerked her leg back Anton laughed

"You think you’re in charge already," she said, her voice tre to hter Me I’m his heir And when I aet this"

I stood up slowly and walked back to Grandad’s house

She wouldn’t talk to me for weeks after, probably because I’d done what Anton toldhad happened Like he’d already chosen who he cared more about, already chosen power over me

I can’t trust the people I care about not to hurt me And I’m not sure I can trust myself not to hurt them, either

Friendships suck

I look at the clock on ure that I better head hoone But I have one more stop to make On redient in s