The Cupid War by Timothy Carter Page A

other hand, waited until you were sure your couple had a chance.”
    â€œWasn’t so hard,” Fallon replied. “I mean, I checked both their hearts first … ”
    â€œExactly!” Caleb said. “I am proud of you, Fallon.”
    His new body didn’t blush, so Fallon simply nodded and said, “Thanks.”
    â€œCheck up with them often,” Caleb told him, “and see how their relationship develops. If you are lucky, and diligent, you might keep them going for a year or more.”
    â€œOnly a year?”
    â€œWell, they were very young,” Caleb replied. “And youth is fickle. But you never know. Theirs might be true love. Wait and see.”
    They walked and chatted for half an hour as they made their way down the Love rows. Fallon seemed to know where he was going; Caleb had told him all Cupids could find their Love instinctively. He stopped in front of a small Love cube and knew right away that it was his.
    â€œThis is mine,” he said, kneeling before the cube. It was no bigger than a lunchbox and looked like a clump of red snow, but to Fallon it was a trophy.
    â€œIndeed it is,” Caleb said. “Feast, my friend. You’ve earned it.”
    Fallon was way ahead of him. The taste was the same, only better. Somehow, the fact that it was his Love made it juicier, sweeter, and more satisfying.
    â€œThat better be your own this time.”
    Halfway through his second mouthful, Fallon turned to see who’d spoken. Then he groaned inwardly. It was Owen, the guy he’d stolen from after his Suicide attack.
    Standing beside Owen, however, was a dark-skinned young woman. She had short hair and an athletic build, and Fallon guessed she was in the same age group as Owen and himself.
    â€œJada!” Caleb said, spreading his arms to embrace her. “How is my brightest student?”
    â€œJust fine, Caleb,” she replied, accepting the embrace. “Not too tight, now, you’ll make Owen jealous.”
    Owen shot her a look but said nothing.
    â€œJada, this is Fallon,” Caleb said, gesturing to him. “Fallon, this is … ”
    â€œYour brightest student,” Fallon finished for him.
    â€œDon’t take it personally,” Jada said, offering her hand for a shake. “Caleb says that to all his students.”
    â€œGotcha,” Fallon said, and then he remembered something. “Wait a minute—Jada? Owen’s girlfriend? From the car crash?”
    â€œFallon … ” Caleb said, and Owen glared daggers.
    â€œThat would be me, yeah,” said Jada.
    â€œSorry,” Fallon said. “That was a bit tactless, wasn’t it? I just remembered Caleb telling me about it and … ”
    â€œCaleb!” Owen said. “Are you telling everyone now?”
    â€œHe would have found out sooner or later,” Caleb said, but he had the good grace to look sheepish.
    â€œIt’s okay,” Jada said with a shrug. “We’re all dead here, and we all have our stories.”
    â€œWhat’s yours?” Owen asked Fallon, and it was his turn to look sheepish.
    â€œI, uh … tripped and fell off a bridge,” he replied.
    â€œKinda clutzy, doncha think?” Owen said with a smirk.
    â€œAt least I wasn’t drunk,” Fallon shot back, and Owen’s smirk became a sneer. Bull’s-eye, Fallon thought, but he had no time to enjoy it; an electrical bolt made both of them jump.
    â€œHavin’ a little party here, are we?” Louis asked as he walked up to them. “Puttin’ our feet up, takin’ it easy?”
    â€œNo sir,” Owen said, his body suddenly ramrod straight. “We … ”
    â€œYou people got work,” Louis said. “Socialize on your own time.”
    â€œWhen is that, exactly?” Jada asked.
    Good question, Fallon thought. Cupids didn’t need to sleep, and didn’t get tired unless they were seriously low on Love.