Bryce and Chad both rolled their eyes at this, but for once didn’t argue with Trey. Of the three bullies who’d picked on him during his first week at the old school, Trey had been the only one to actually try to be Fort’s friend at the new school. The other two had kept torturing Fort for another week or so, but gradually given in to him sitting at their table every so often. Fort barely had any friends as it was, so it was worth a few pranks to have Trey on his side.

But now really wasn’t the time. “I promised I’d sit with Cyrus and everyone,” he said to Trey. “How about I see you guys at dinner?”

Chad snorted at this, and Bryce grinned. “Looks like your pet bandage doesn’t want to sit with you, Trey,” Bryce said, using the Destruction kids nickname for Healing students. “How pathetic is that, to get shot down by the new kid?”

Trey’s eyes narrowed, and he waved Fort off. “Whatever. I’m busy at dinner. See you never.”

Fort winced, but it couldn’t be helped. Everything was happening tonight, which meant he needed to go over the plan with Jia and Rachel. It all hinged on them knowing their parts, and he couldn’t let anything get in the way of that.

“Sorry,” he whispered at Trey, who didn’t acknowledge that he’d heard. Fort sighed and walked over to the table where Rachel was glaring at the three boys.

“Want me to burn their behinds?” she asked as Fort sat down. “I’m always up for tormenting the Chads.”

“Rachel,” Jia said. “You’re going to use magic outside the classrooms? You know we’re not supposed to!”

“Jia,” Rachel said, mimicking her voice. “You know I have a moral duty to set jerks’ behinds on fire.”

“Oh, I’m not saying you shouldn’t,” Jia said, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “I’m saying I want to help!”

“I’m okay, but thanks,” Fort told her. “Did Cyrus tell you what he found out last night?”

Rachel and Jia both nodded. “Let’s not forget that these things make everything cloudier than I’d like,” Cyrus said. “But I’m pretty sure that I saw what we need.”

Fort clenched his fists beneath the table, trying not to let his impatience over the last few weeks make him more anxious than he already was. “ ‘Pretty sure’ has to be enough, then,” he said, gritting his teeth. “We’ll just be extra careful. But that means it’s even more important to go over the plan one more time, so that everyone knows what they’re doing.”

Rachel groaned, and even Jia looked irritated. “There’s such a thing as overplanning,” Rachel said. “Besides, you know everything’s going to go wrong as soon as we start, so why not just let us improvise?”