The Soulkeepers

  Chapter 20

  Birthday

  “Did you ever think we would make it through this year?” Malini asked.

  Jacob followed her through the double doors of Paris High School, exhausted from a full week of final exams. “No, not really,” he said. Between Dane, Dr. Silva, and Katrina, he was happy to survive most days. The year seemed a lot to ask for.

  “I guess it could’ve been worse.”

  “How exactly?”

  Malini stopped walking and looked at him.

  “Flesh-eating spiders. There could’ve been spiders.” Malini always did know just what to say. “So, how do you think you did?”

  “You first,” he deflected.

  “Unless I absolutely bombed that one, straight As.” She grinned. “Second year in a row. How about you?”

  “I didn’t do as well as you, but I passed everything,” he said, embarrassed. He hadn’t felt much like studying with everything else going on, and eked by with three Bs and two Cs.

  “Oh, come on. Tell me,” Malini said, as they walked toward the Laudners’ shop.

  “Not a chance.”

  He kissed her lightly on the cheek. Grades aside, nothing made him happier than knowing they had three months free from Dane Michaels and his posse. Even better, the graduation party last weekend for Katrina was a happy reminder that she would be gone at the end of August.

  “Admit it, you actually miss school during the summer, don’t you?” he asked Malini.

  “Sometimes. But you know what I won’t miss?” She beamed at him.

  “What?”

  “Walking. You turn sixteen in a week don’t you?”

  “Yes, I do. And, I suppose once I can drive you’ll want to mooch rides off of me.”

  “When you can drive? How about now?” She leapt onto his back.

  He carried her piggyback style halfway to McNaulty’s.