“You are cutting into my nap time, yes,” Marcy said. “But I’m just saying that if you want to go out and have a good time, you should. You’ve been stressing too much lately, and it’d be good for you to have some fun.”

“Maybe.” Harper chewed her lip, debating whether or not to tell Marcy about Daniel, before deciding just to go for it. “Daniel did ask me to go with him to the fireworks tomorrow night.”

“Oooooo,” Marcy said. “Fireworks, eh? That sounds serious.”

“Marcy.” Harper groaned, but she was smiling and blushing.

“Oh, my god, look at you,” Marcy said. “It is serious. Are you and Mr. Tall Dark and Tattooed finally an item? Did you kiss each other with tongue?”

“Marcy!” Harper’s cheeks turned so red, she nearly matched Marcy’s sunburn. “It’s not … We haven’t kissed yet, but … You can’t ask me things like that. It’s weird when you say it.”

“Should I toss my hair and chew bubble gum?” Marcy asked. “Would that make you feel more comfortable?”

“I don’t know.” Harper waved her hands. “Maybe we shouldn’t talk about it at all.”

“Fine.” Marcy leaned back in her chair. “So are you going with him tomorrow?”

“I don’t know.” Harper shook her head. “I don’t think I should. With everything going on with Gemma, I don’t feel like I should leave her alone.”

“Do you want me to go babysit her tomorrow so you can have a night on the town?” Marcy offered.

“No. My dad will be home, and Alex will be next door.”

“So what’s the problem?” Marcy asked. “It sounds like she’s all set for babysitters.”

“She is, but…” Harper trailed off and fiddled with a pencil on the desk. “I just don’t know how to stop the sirens, and they’re coming for her.”

“Stab them through the heart and cut off their heads,” Marcy said. “I don’t know anything that can survive that.”

Harper thought about it for a minute, then shook her head. “They turn into freaky giant bird-monsters. Who the hell knows what they’re capable of?”

“Well, stab them through the heart, and you’ll find out.”

“That’s your advice?” Harper arched her eyebrow. “Stab them through the heart and see if it kills them?”

“No, my actual advice would be, stab them through the heart, run like hell, and hope it kills them,” Marcy corrected her.

“But what if it doesn’t kill them?”

“Then you have one really pissed-off freaky giant bird-monster after you,” Marcy said matter-of-factly.

“That’s not very comforting,” Harper replied.

“It wasn’t supposed to be. You want comforting, talk to your boyfriend or your dad or Gemma. You want the truth, talk to me.”

“What if they’re unstoppable?” Harper asked.