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bawling.”
    â€œYou’re entitled,” I said. I took her hand. “I’ll talk to these guys about your parents. Maybe they can do something. They owe us, right?”
    â€œThank you.” She leaned forward and kissed me. “I’ll see you in an hour.” As I turned to go she said, “I love you too, Michael.”
    I turned back. “I know. I still don’t believe it, but I know.”

A fter showering I dressed in some of the new clothes they had brought, then lay back on my bed, waiting for them to come for us. Ostin was still snoring like a bandsaw. As I lay there listening to him, all I could think about was what Taylor had said about never going back. She was right. I suppose I hadn’t thought as much about it as she had because I wasn’t really giving up anything. Everyone I cared about was here.
    About ten minutes later someone knocked on our door. “Mr. Vey, Mr. Liss. It’s time for the reception.”
    â€œC’mon, Ostin,” I said, sitting up. “It’s time.”
    â€œTime for what?” he said groggily.
    â€œTo go to the reception.”
    He yawned loudly, then rolled over. “There’d better be food at this thing.”
    * * * 
    By the time we walked out of our room, everyone else was already standing in the hallway. Zeus, McKenna, Abigail, and Ian were talking to Tanner.
    Taylor walked up to me and took my hand. She looked like she was feeling a little better. Or at least she was doing a better job of hiding her pain. “Did you see Tanner?” she asked.
    â€œI talked to him this afternoon.”
    â€œI hardly recognized him,” she said. “He doesn’t even look like the same person.”
    â€œThat’s exactly what I said.”
    Just then Tanner walked over to us. “Hey, Taylor. Mike.”
    â€œI was just saying how great you look,” Taylor said.
    â€œYou look great too. Want to go out?”
    Taylor grinned. “Flattered, but you’ll have to ask my boyfriend.”
    â€œThat’s not going to happen,” I said.
    â€œEven after I dropped those helicopter gunships?”
    â€œEven,” I said.
    He laughed. “Like my father used to say, if you don’t ask, the answer is always no.” He leaned in closer and his voice lowered. “Have you guys seen Zeus?”
    â€œWe see him every day,” I said.
    â€œI mean, post shower. He, like, doesn’t stink. He smells good.”
    â€œWe’ll go right over and sniff him,” Taylor said wryly.
    Just then a voice from the end of the hall said, “You all clean up nicely.” We all looked over to see Joel walking up the corridor. “Are we missing anyone?”
    â€œJust me,” Grace said, walking out of her room.
    â€œGrace!” Tessa shouted. The girls hugged. “Where have you been?” Tessa asked.
    â€œYou know, after these guys took down the academy, I thought I’d come here for a while. How about you? I hear you’ve been hanging out in the jungle.”
    â€œIt’s true,” Tessa said proudly. “I’ve been eating mashed tree larvae and fishing for piranha.”
    â€œThat’s crazy,” Grace said.
    â€œSeeing you is crazy,” Tessa replied.
    Like Tanner, Grace also looked different to me. Lighter. Healthier. I suppose being away from Hatch had that effect on people.
    â€œThe reunions are just beginning,” Joel said. “Let’s go to the party.”
    I was pleased to hear that the event had been upgraded from a reception to a party. We followed Joel back down the hallway, through a set of double doors, then outside to another building. The night air was cool and filled with the song of crickets.
    â€œIs there food at this thing?” Ostin asked.
    â€œWhat kind of a celebration would it be without food?” Joel replied. “I promise, there will be more than you can eat, including what may be the best