Watch Your Step by T. R. Burns

holds up a short silver wand, then aims it at one of the gray ceiling spheres.
    â€œThat’s okay!” Abe jumps to his feet. “I don’t need another demo.”
    Lemon tosses the remote onto the couch and drops his duffel bag to the floor. I’m so happy to see him I want to hug him too—but he doesn’t say hi. He doesn’t even look at me. All he does is cross his arms over his stomach and slowly tilt to one side until his left shoulder stops at the doorway wall.
    â€œHow was your ride?” I ask.
    â€œLong,” he says.
    â€œWere your parents so excited about Kamp Kilter?” Gabby asks.
    He shrugs. “They’re here. So  . . .”
    â€œWhat about your little brother?” Abe asks.
    â€œOh my goodness, little kids love camp,” Gabby says. “A long time ago? When I was five? My parents sent me to Camp Songbird, this amazing camp for super talented musicians. And at first? I totally didn’t want to go. I was, like, crazy homesick. I cried myself to sleep and—”
    A doorbell rings.
    Gabby gasps. “Company!” She claps her hands and races out of the room.
    Abe looks at me. “ Now can we take out her batteries?”
    I smile at him, then look at Lemon. Or at the empty space he occupied half a second ago. Lemon’s idea of hurrying is walking instead of shuffling, but his legs are about twice as long as mine are and can move fast when he wants them to. Before I can decide whether to go find him or give him space, Gabby bounds back into the room.
    â€œLook who’s here !” she declares.
    â€œYour old Camp Songbird counselor?” Abe asks. “To say there’s been a terrible mistake and that you should be there instead?”
    I start to laugh—and then stop. Because I no longerremember what Abe just said. Or where we are. Or why. Or even what my name is.
    Fortunately, Elinor does.
    â€œHi, Seamus.”
    My mouth opens. Closes. Opens again.
    â€œHey, Elinor,” Abe says.
    â€œHi.” Her eyes—her warm, pretty eyes, which are the color of worn pennies—hold mine. When the cat refuses to return my tongue, they shift to my alliance mate. “Annika said I could stay with you guys. Is that okay?”
    â€œStay with us?” Gabby asks. “You mean live with us?”
    Elinor nods.
    â€œYes!” Gabby grabs Elinor’s hand and drags her from the room. “Oh my goodness, we’re going to be roommates and best friends and stay up all night talking about trouble and boys and boys and trouble and . . .”
    Her voice fades as they head down the hallway.
    â€œShe’s not in the alliance,” Abe says. “We have to be really careful not to—”
    He’s cut off by a loud buzzing. The noise comes from our K-Paks. I take mine from my pocket and accept the video chatrequest. Abe does the same with his. Annika’s face appears on our computer screens.
    â€œHello, Troublemakers!” she says with a smile. “Welcome back to Kilter Academy. I know you didn’t expect to return so soon, but I hope you’re happy you did. I know I am! You must have many questions, and I promise to answer them all. We just have to take care of one item of business first. You might find it confusing, but please play along. Consider it your first troublemaking assignment of the summer!”
    I feel a familiar wave of nervousness. It’s been almost a year, and I still feel bad about trying to get into trouble instead of trying to stay out of it.
    â€œPlease report aboveground immediately,” Annika says.
    The screens go blank. Abe books it to the elevator. I follow him, trying not to worry about the pending mission, Lemon’s weird behavior, my parents . . . Elinor living in our house.
    Abe gets there first, but the elevator doesn’t arrive right away. By the time it does, Lemon, Gabby, Elinor, and I are standing behind him. While we