Green came back in, loaded with bags from the grocery store. Nathan and Kota went to peek at what he was carrying in. I was about to join them when Luke nudged my arm, whispering to me. “Hurry up with Gabriel’s pumpkin,” he said. “He’ll be here soon, and I’ve got the perfect plan. We need to start with him, because we’ll need his help for the other ones.” I pressed my lips together, hopping back to the pumpkin and trying to hurry. Luke’s enthusiastic smile, and his brown eyes lighting up with amusement, were enough to get me moving. It warmed me, because it helped me to shake off the thought of homecoming. It helped me to forget yesterday. I wasn’t sure Luke was aware, but he was helping me by putting me to work and giving me a new focus. Initiation. The sun was up by now. Kota put on coffee and the others took turns with pumpkins and with eating some breakfast sandwiches. I was just finishing up scraping inside the pumpkin when the sound of a car rolling up caused me to turn toward the window.
