"Are you okay?" Micah asked, studying me. "Is Jill okay?"

"I don't know," I said. "Excuse me." I broke out of my team formation and jogged over to where Miss Carson was supervising.

"Yes?" she asked me.

"I'm sorry to bother you, ma'am, but I'm worried about my sister. Jill Melrose. I'm Sydney. She's supposed to be in here. Do you know if she changed classes?"

"Ah, yes. Melrose. I got a note from the office, just before class, that she wouldn't be attending today."

"Did they say why?"

Miss Carson shook her head apologetically and barked an order to some guy who was slacking off. I rejoined my team, mind spinning. Well, at least someone had seen Jill today, but why on earth would she not be attending?

"Is she okay?" Micah asked me.

"I... I guess. Miss Carson seemed to know she wouldn't be in class but doesn't know why."

"Is there anything I can do?" he asked. "To help her? Er, you guys?"

"No, thanks. That's nice of you to ask." I wished there was a clock around. "I'll check on her as soon as class is over." A thought suddenly occurred to me. "But Micah? Don't say anything to Eddie."

Micah gave me a curious look. "Why not?"

"He's overprotective. He'll worry when it's probably nothing."

Also, he'll tear the school apart looking for her.

When class ended, I quickly showered and changed clothes before heading to the administrative building. I was desperate to run back to the dorm first to see if Jill was there, but I couldn't be late for the appointment. As I walked down a hallway to Molly's office, I passed by the main one - and an idea came to me. I stopped in to talk to the attendance secretary before going to my appointment.

"Jill Melrose," the secretary said, nodding. "She was sent back to her dorm."

"Sent back?" I exclaimed. "What does that mean?"

"I'm not at liberty to say." Melodramatic much?

Annoyed and more confused than ever, I went to Molly's office, taking comfort in the fact that even if Jill's absence was mysterious, at least it was sanctioned by the school. Molly told me I could either take another elective or engage in some kind of independent study in place of a language, if I got a teacher to sponsor me. An idea popped into my head.

"Can I check in with you tomorrow?" I asked. "I need to talk to someone first."

"Sure," said Molly. "Just decide soon. You can go back to your dorm now, but we can't have you wandering around every day during this time." I assured her she'd have an answer soon and headed back. The shuttle bus didn't run very often during classes, so I just walked the mile back. It only took fifteen minutes but felt twice as long in the heat. When I finally reached the dorm room, relief flooded me. Hanging out in our room as if nothing strange had happened was Jill.

"You're all right!"

Jill was lying on the bed, reading her book again. She looked up morosely. "Yeah. Kind of."

I sat down on my own bed and kicked off my shoes. "What happened? I had a panic attack when you weren't in class. If Eddie knew - "

Jill sat bolt upright. "No, don't tell Eddie. He'll freak out."

"Okay, okay. But tell me what happened. They said you got sent here?"

"Yeah." Jill made a face. "Because I was kicked out of my first class."

I was speechless. I couldn't imagine what sweet, shy Jill could have possibly done to warrant that. Oh, God. I hope she didn't bite someone. I was the one everyone expected to have trouble fitting into a school schedule. Jill should have been a pro.

"What were you kicked out for?"

Jill sighed. "For having a hangover."

More speechlessness. "What?"

"I was sick. Ms. Chang - my teacher - took one look at me and said she could spot a hangover a mile away. She sent me to the office for breaking school rules. I told them I was just sick, but she kept saying she knew. The principal finally said there was no way to prove that's why I was sick, so I didn't get punished, but I wasn't allowed to go to the rest of my classes. I had to stay here for the rest of the school day."

"That's... that's idiotic!" I shot to my feet and began pacing. Now that I'd recovered from my initial disbelief, I was simply outraged. "I was with you last night. You slept here. I should know. I woke up once, and you were out cold. How can Ms. Chang even make an accusation like that? She had no proof!

The school didn't either. They had no right to send you out of class. I should go to the office right now! No, I'm going to talk to Keith and the Alchemists and have our 'parents' file a complaint."

"No, wait, Sydney." Jill jumped up and caught ahold of my arm, as though afraid I would march out then and there. "Please. Don't. Just let it go. I don't want to cause any more trouble. I didn't get any bad marks. I wasn't really punished."

"You're behind in your classes," I said. "That's punishment enough."

Jill shook her head, eyes wide. She was afraid, I realized, but I had no idea why she wouldn't want me to tell. She was the victim here. "No, it's fine. I'll catch up. There are no long-term consequences. Please don't make a big deal out of this. The other teachers probably just thought I was sick. They probably don't even know about the accusations."

"It's not right, though," I growled. "I can do something about it. It's what I'm here for, to help you."

"No," said Jill adamantly. "Please. Let it go. If you really want to help..." She averted her eyes.

"What?" I asked, still filled with righteous fury. "What do you need? Name it."

Jill looked back up. "I need you... I need you to take me to Adrian."

Chapter Seven

"ADRIAN?" I SAID IN SURPRISE. "What's he have to do with any of this?"

Jill simply shook her head and looked at me beseechingly. "Please. Just take me to him."

"But we'll be back there in a couple days for your feeding."

"I know," said Jill. "But I need to see him now. He's the only one who will understand."

I found that hard to believe. "You're saying I wouldn't? Or that even Eddie wouldn't?"

She groaned. "No. You can't tell Eddie. He'll flip out."

I tried not to frown as I mulled everything over. Why would Jill need to see Adrian after this mishap at school? Adrian couldn't do anything to help that I couldn't. As an Alchemist, I was in the best position to file a complaint. Did Jill just want moral support? I remembered how Jill had hugged Adrian goodbye and suddenly wondered if she had a crush on him. Because surely, if Jill needed to feel protected by someone, Eddie would be a better source to turn to. Or would he? Eddie was likely to go throwing office desks around in his outrage. Keeping this from him might not be a bad idea.