One of the kids snorts and spews orange soda out of their nose as Parker shoves another hot dog in his mouth with a single bite. Jacob does the same, battling it out for the title of most disgusting eater of hot dogs. They’re on to their fifth or sixth. Another boy and one girl keep pace with them. I admire the girl. She looks ready to puke, but she’s reaching for another when Deb calls time. Everyone cheers, and Jacob lifts Parker’s hand in the air as champion, even though I’m sure Jacob was one ahead of him. I actually like that kid, I have to admit.

Stacie pulls a face beside me. “Tell me again why I’m here?”

“I invited you to hang out because I’m leaving tomorrow for a while.”

“You’re leaving and you can’t tell me where exactly you’re going.”

“I did tell you. Santa Cruz.”

“That’s not an actual address. Text me where you are when you get there, at least. I know you’re terrible at communication, but I don’t want the next time I see you to be your terrible junior yearbook picture on Dateline.”

I sigh. We’ve been through this ten times already. I told her I was going to travel with the magicians as their apprentice. I left out the magic-being-real part. Stacie believes in vampires, but that’s still a big jump to people moving stuff with their minds. She’s certain I’ll end up murdered in a ditch.

“I’ll try,” I tell her, but we both know I’ll probably forget.

She wrinkles her nose as she looks around the room again. “As much as I love preteen shenanigans, it’s a Sunday afternoon, and I’ve got places to be and boys to see.”

“I promise you’ll be glad you came in a minute.” I check the time on the microwave. One forty-five. Thank goodness I told him an hour later than the party really started, so he didn’t have to witness a room full of twelve-year-olds pigging out on hot dogs.

She raises an eyebrow. “Just tell me, and I’ll be the judge of that. It’s going to have to beat Alex from that phone case stand in the mall with his shaggy, floppy puppy hair you just want to brush out of his face. He’s already waiting at the coffee shop for me. Not that he won’t keep waiting.” She grins.

I’m not even sure if she’s mentioned Alex before, but I’m certain he’s no Xander. I lower my voice. “I’ve got one of the magicians from the other night coming to do a surprise performance.”