As he turns, however, I spy something sticking out of his bag. Something that looks remarkably like the cutout of a head…attached to a chopstick.

“What’s that?” I blurt.

“Oh. I forgot.” Archie glances over his shoulder sheepishly and then pulls out the object and hands it to me. “Zeke helped me make this last night.”

I flip the head over, and my mouth drops. It’s Tom Hiddleston—aka Loki—complete with flowing black locks, high forehead, and piercing stare. A cartoon bubble reads, “The Golden Apples of Idunn. It’s what’s for dinner.”

“I thought you could eat with him the next time I have to bail.” Archie snickers. “Since no one else seems to like you.”

I shake the chopstick, and the Loki head vibrates. I’m grinning so hard, you would think that both Chris and Tom were here in the flesh. I can’t believe my brother made this for me. “That’s not true. I have tons of friends. Loads. And they all adore my cooking.”

He arches an eyebrow above his glasses. “Who are these so-called people? And what’s wrong with their taste buds?”

“Well, Lalana, obviously. And, you know, Thor.” My lips tremble with the effort not to laugh. “And now I have Loki. Perfect. We’ll double date. I’ll make my specialty, pork and chive dumplings.”

“Just don’t burn the bottoms like you did last time,” he says. “That would just be embarrassing.”

“Maybe Loki will love them so much, they’ll trend on Instagram. Blackened dumplings!”

He shakes his head. “My sister the optimist.”

I’m still smiling as I grab my backpack from the trunk. I can always count on Archie to make me feel better.

My bright-blue nails glint under the sunlight, and my glow dims just a tad. I painted them an hour ago, after I finished texting with the most obnoxious boy alive. But now, I’m second-guessing my decision. Why, oh why, did I choose this particular shade?

It was a whim. One that had absolutely nothing to do with Bandit.

I round the car to the sidewalk and stop short, nails forgotten. Archie’s been accosted by Lee Jenkins, a beefy, red-faced senior who’s almost as wide as he is tall.

My mouth goes dry. Is Lee the one I’m supposed to stop? Will he grow up to destroy the world? Or is it one of his buddies loitering on the grass, Scotty or J.J.?

More importantly, will I now be suspicious of everyone who crosses my path?

Lee slaps Archie on the back, so hard that my brother stumbles forward. “Dude!” Lee says, ten degrees warmer than I thought him capable. “You’re awake! I can hardly believe it!” Behind him, Scotty and J.J. shove each other, snickering.