“How hard did you work, though? I mean, how long did you give it?”

“Ages,” Omen insisted.

“And why did you stop?”

“Well, like, it was really difficult.”

Never sighed, and looked away for a moment, gathering her thoughts. “There’s nothing actually wrong with you. I mean, you know that, right? Your parents are obsessed with making sure Auger is ready to fight the King of the Darklands, whoever the hell he is. So yeah, you get ignored. But you’re still a worthwhile person. You’re decent, you can occasionally be funny and you have a good heart. It’s why people like you.”

Omen’s eyes widened. “People like me?”

“Probably, yeah.”

“Wow. Do you know who?”

“No. We don’t have a club. We don’t have badges or go to meetings. I’m just assuming other people like you because, well, because I cannot be the only one, I swear to God.”

“Thanks, Never. You’re cool, too.”

She frowned at him. “I know.”

The door opened, and Auger stepped in, smiling when he saw Omen looking up.

“What’d you do this time?” Auger asked. “Hey, Never.”

“Hi, Auger,” Never said, giving a little wave.

“I missed a class,” Omen said. “By accident. Don’t tell Mum and Dad.”

“Dude, if I told them half the stuff you got in trouble for, you’d never be able to leave the house. I thought Miss Ether supervised on Wednesdays.”

“I’m the only one in detention,” Omen said, “so she told me to get on with it and then she left.”

“Never, what are you doing here?”

Never shrugged. “Keeping him company.”

Auger smiled another one of his dazzling smiles. “You’re a class act, you know that?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Why do you want Miss Ether?” Omen asked.

Auger gave a quick one-shouldered shrug. “Nothing important. Just have to check something with her. Homework stuff. Anyway, try and stay out of trouble, you two.”

And then he was gone.

Never looked at Omen. “What do you think’s going on?”

“I bet he’s on another adventure,” Omen said.

“Me too. Like the time with the substitute teacher who turned out to be a serial killer, or all that possession stuff last year. Hey, you think he’ll ever invite the two of us along? I mean, you are his brother, and we are best friends.”

“Are we?”

“Aren’t we?”

“Well,” said Omen, “you’re my best friend, but am I your best friend?”

Never thought about it. “Probably not,” she admitted. “But you’re up there. Top four.”

“Four?”

“I’m very popular with a lot of diverse groups,” Never explained.

“Four, though.”

“Maybe five.”

“Ah, for God’s sake.”