Shadow Boy by R.J. Ross Page B

faster than I thought we would,” Carla admits. “But we can call him! You can borrow my phone, okay?”
    “Yeah,” he says. “Thanks.” I feel a little irritable, I think, quickly shoving it down. Maybe yesterday was tougher on me than I thought—
    “What, exactly, is going on here?” I hear a familiar voice say from the door. I glance up, breaking into a grin as Vinny steps in.
    “VINNY!” practically the entire cafeteria shouts excitedly. Carla’s gone with a whoosh, and I watch with amusement as she tackles him. That relationship doesn’t bother me in the least, a little voice whispers. So why does Cisco and her—
    Nope, not going to dwell on it, I think as I get to my feet, clasping arms with Kaden and bumping chests. “Did you get bigger, man?” I demand as he grins down at me.
    “A little,” he says modestly.
    “Carla, you can get off,” I hear Vinny drawl.
    “I didn’t miss you at ALL,” she declares proudly. “So why are you back?”
    “Nico called me,” Vinny says, getting to his feet. “I’ve got a debut to plan out, right?” he adds, looking at me. “Unless you’ve picked someone else—”
    “No way, if I’m debuting, you’re doing it,” I say.
    “Have you picked your Hall yet?” he asks.
    “As far as I can tell, I’m staying Cape High,” I admit, a bit confused, myself. “Nico offered me a dirty jobs sort of position, and it makes sense. Besides, I don’t have the best rep with some of the other leaders.”
    “Officially you’d be a Central villain,” Max offers, walking over. “We’re a bit more lax on what Hall we work for on our side. Besides, all of the Cape High kids could change Halls at any moment—Zoe says Vinny’s probably going to wind up South, sooner or later.”
    “That’s not been decided yet,” Vinny says with a shrug. “But I’m not as adverse to it as I used to be.” He looks at me again, raising an eyebrow. “So… you don’t mind if I see what they’ve done to my kitchen first, do you?”
    “Nope, not at all—they make decent pancakes, though, so don’t be too harsh on them?” I add as he heads for the kitchen like a man on a mission. “Man am I glad I ate first,” I add as I watch. There’s the sound of pots clanking and Vinny talking very quietly to the group. Vinny never yells—I think that takes too much energy, or something. Vinny’s probably the most laid-back guy I know, but still, this is HIS kitchen. Everyone knows it.
    “Well, there goes our ordering what we want for breakfast,” Carla says, holding my cup of coffee—oh crap, I think, grabbing for the cup. She gives me the most evil grin I’ve ever seen and disappears, reappearing across the room. “Oh wait, this is—hey, everybody! I GOT COFFEE!” she exclaims happily before taking a drink.
    “ROCCO!” the entire room bellows at me as she tears around the room excitedly.
    “Well, then,” I say, turning and heading for the door. “I have training to get ready for. Sorry to dine and dash, guys, but—” I race through the nearest shadow, positive that I don’t want to be held responsible for this one.
    That I’m laughing my head off is something only the shadow dinos and I need know.
     
     

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    “Now,” Nico says as Vinny and I stand in the middle of the Apocalypse Field. The Apocalypse Field has a much more technical name, but nobody except maybe Nico and Zoe remembers it. We renamed it when Nico started dressing the robots up in rags and red paint, telling us we’re doing a zombie run. I really think the guy watches too many late late night horror movies or something—the cheesy ones in black and white, I bet. Either way, it also acts as a sparring field for the big names. I never thought I’d have to use it that way, though. “Since it seems to be Rocco’s fault that Carla’s still in Mach 3 mode—”
    We all turn, watching as the blur races sideways over the wall of the canyon. “She’s literally bouncing off the walls,”