confuse, and lie to anyone who is not your partner.”
Another cheer rose up and Thea high-fived Beth, who gave her a
please, we are not twelve
eye roll but high-fived her back.
“Rule six: do not maim anyone!”
“Damn it,” Cage said. “Now it’s no fun at all.”
“That’s
nine
!” Kyle added, and some of the others laughed. Robin grinned at him.
August was unfazed. “First done wins. I
will
be keeping track. Of
everything.
If you break the rules, you will pay.”
“Wahaha,” the singer slurred into her mike.
“Since this is the last hunt, I have upped the budget on the prizes, as you have all been speculating. The two members of the winning team will each get a personalized prize. Heather, for example, could meet a casting agent who is a friend of my family. He’s looking for a young ingénue for a new kids’ show.”
Heather caught her breath. August continued.
“Cage could win a meeting with a football scout. Everyone has one. I’ll think of something for you, Robin,” he said, nodding in her direction. “Each person’s prize is printed on their clue card. But if anyone bails out of the game, no prize.
“And for the winning
team,
there’s a choice of prizes for them to share.” He held up a finger. “Option A: you and a date can ride to prom in the same limo that the Rolling Stones used when my parents took them to San Francisco to check out our new restaurant.”
“Oh my God, that is so cool,” Thea said, and the others nodded in agreement. Kyle wondered if August was just making that up or if it really was the same limo.
“
Or
you can have what I think is the most amazing prize of all,” August said. “Everyone knows I’m something of a hacker.” There were nods. “Well, check this out. In their infinite wisdom, the administration of Callabrese High has created an internal computer dropbox. Into this dropbox, all the teachers of all the classes at our school are busily uploading their final exams.
And
their answer keys.”
Over the ensuing hubbub, August raised his hands. “Yes, my friends, that means
every single final.
And, of course, Mr. Blanchard, our IT teacher, has added the seven deadly rings of security.” He snickered. “Which I, of course, hacked past. I have the security protocol,
including
the numerous passwords, and I will give it all to two lucky winners…unless you would rather have the limo.”
Kyle frowned, super pissed. He had studied his butt off for weeks. Ms. Amaya and a couple of the other teachers graded on a curve, and he couldn’t afford to get knocked down because people were cheating. It was so typical of August, who cut corners every chance he got just because he
could.
And typical of their friends to take the easy way out.
It was not typical of Coach Brissett’s daughter, apparently. Beth and Thea were hopping up and down in utter ecstasy, but Robin looked as shocked as he felt, and he watched her arguing with them. He and Robin were the only two honest people in a den of thieves.
“When I give the signal, you will rip open your clue envelopes and find your partners,” August said. “So tank up on food now. It’s going to be a long night.”
Kyle wandered over to the overflowing refreshment table. As usual, August had put out an amazing amount of food. And not just cheap munchies, but cracked crab on sourdough bread, clam chowder, little Japanese bento lunch boxes packed with sushi, and a massive cake that looked like a bottle of Anchor Steam beer. The table was decorated with at least six different colors of miniature roses and two enormous ice sculptures of sea lions. Random.
Robin came over. There was guacamole and chips, and she got a little skull-shaped plate and took some. He knew that even though she wasn’t looking at him, she was conscious of his presence, and he moved closer and snagged a chip off her plate.
“So, this is your first August party,” he said. He loved her eyes. They were blue, like his, but a bit
Another cheer rose up and Thea high-fived Beth, who gave her a
please, we are not twelve
eye roll but high-fived her back.
“Rule six: do not maim anyone!”
“Damn it,” Cage said. “Now it’s no fun at all.”
“That’s
nine
!” Kyle added, and some of the others laughed. Robin grinned at him.
August was unfazed. “First done wins. I
will
be keeping track. Of
everything.
If you break the rules, you will pay.”
“Wahaha,” the singer slurred into her mike.
“Since this is the last hunt, I have upped the budget on the prizes, as you have all been speculating. The two members of the winning team will each get a personalized prize. Heather, for example, could meet a casting agent who is a friend of my family. He’s looking for a young ingénue for a new kids’ show.”
Heather caught her breath. August continued.
“Cage could win a meeting with a football scout. Everyone has one. I’ll think of something for you, Robin,” he said, nodding in her direction. “Each person’s prize is printed on their clue card. But if anyone bails out of the game, no prize.
“And for the winning
team,
there’s a choice of prizes for them to share.” He held up a finger. “Option A: you and a date can ride to prom in the same limo that the Rolling Stones used when my parents took them to San Francisco to check out our new restaurant.”
“Oh my God, that is so cool,” Thea said, and the others nodded in agreement. Kyle wondered if August was just making that up or if it really was the same limo.
“
Or
you can have what I think is the most amazing prize of all,” August said. “Everyone knows I’m something of a hacker.” There were nods. “Well, check this out. In their infinite wisdom, the administration of Callabrese High has created an internal computer dropbox. Into this dropbox, all the teachers of all the classes at our school are busily uploading their final exams.
And
their answer keys.”
Over the ensuing hubbub, August raised his hands. “Yes, my friends, that means
every single final.
And, of course, Mr. Blanchard, our IT teacher, has added the seven deadly rings of security.” He snickered. “Which I, of course, hacked past. I have the security protocol,
including
the numerous passwords, and I will give it all to two lucky winners…unless you would rather have the limo.”
Kyle frowned, super pissed. He had studied his butt off for weeks. Ms. Amaya and a couple of the other teachers graded on a curve, and he couldn’t afford to get knocked down because people were cheating. It was so typical of August, who cut corners every chance he got just because he
could.
And typical of their friends to take the easy way out.
It was not typical of Coach Brissett’s daughter, apparently. Beth and Thea were hopping up and down in utter ecstasy, but Robin looked as shocked as he felt, and he watched her arguing with them. He and Robin were the only two honest people in a den of thieves.
“When I give the signal, you will rip open your clue envelopes and find your partners,” August said. “So tank up on food now. It’s going to be a long night.”
Kyle wandered over to the overflowing refreshment table. As usual, August had put out an amazing amount of food. And not just cheap munchies, but cracked crab on sourdough bread, clam chowder, little Japanese bento lunch boxes packed with sushi, and a massive cake that looked like a bottle of Anchor Steam beer. The table was decorated with at least six different colors of miniature roses and two enormous ice sculptures of sea lions. Random.
Robin came over. There was guacamole and chips, and she got a little skull-shaped plate and took some. He knew that even though she wasn’t looking at him, she was conscious of his presence, and he moved closer and snagged a chip off her plate.
“So, this is your first August party,” he said. He loved her eyes. They were blue, like his, but a bit
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