The team moves closer to where Julian is, and I try to back away. I have no idea how they’re all going to take this news, and I really don’t want to be a part of it at all. I wish Camille were here to stop it. Or at least ease the tension that’s sure to follow this announcement.

“Actually, it is about the Taylor prank,” Julian says, and everything falls silent, the air full of anticipation. The only noise is from the rolling ocean and the logs popping in the fire.

Julian hesitates for a beat too long. “What’s going on, Cap?” Bucky says.

“Well,” Julian starts. “I think we’re not doing a prank this year.”

“Wait, what?” Darien yells from the other side of the fire.

“Listen,” Julian goes on. “Not playing a prank is the ultimate prank! Taylor will be so distracted at the game, waiting for us to make our move, that they won’t be able to concentrate on playing actual football. They’ll constantly be looking over their shoulders, wondering what’s coming. We’ll tan their hides at homecoming. Pretty much a guaranteed victory! That’s what we all want in the end, right?” Julian really tries to sell it. He stands up on a boulder and holds his arms out like he’s giving an epic before-game pep talk.

“That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, dude,” someone says.

A bunch of mumbles flutter through the crowd, but no one outwardly disagrees with Julian. I think they all respect him too much for that. But the mood of the team kind of falls flat, with no one sure how to respond.

Julian watches our teammates give one another sideways glances and lowers his arms. His face falls a little bit.

“We beat Stephens City!” I yell suddenly, raising my arms high in the air, and the team turns toward me and cheers. I may want no part in this discussion, but I can’t leave Julian hanging like that. “Bucky, turn that music up!”

Bucky starts the hype song again, and the guys start grabbing one another’s shoulders and jumping around in the sand, singing along. I grab onto Darien and Nate and add my voice to the celebration and then motion with my chin for Julian to come, too. He steps down from his boulder and joins in, but his face isn’t as triumphant as it was a little bit ago.

This probably won’t be the last conversation we have about the prank. Not by a long shot.

· twenty-one ·

JULIAN

Eventually, the sun starts to dip behind the dunes, and someone turns the music down to a manageable volume. We all stick by the fire, though, toasting marshmallows and talking about the game. Someone brings out a case of beer, but I don’t really notice anyone drinking it.