⇒Chapter 8: Peter’s Solution⇐

“Are you kidding?” Erin exclaimed.

“No, I’m not. I know a person who has the answers to all your questions.” Peter replied calmly.

“Why didn’t you tell us this before?!”

Peter tapped his ear and said with a smile,”Too many listening ears.”

“Believe me when I say this, Peter, but a loud and crowded place is the best place to share secrets. In a quiet room like this, anyone who decides to listen in on us would know a every single word of our conversation.”

Had you been in the hallway at that moment, you would have seen nothing unusual. Until a flicker of a boy pressing his ear to the door would appear.. The boy would get clearer until he was a solid form. He would glance suspiciously around the hallway, and at that point he would be recognized as Ximen Valor. Finding nothing, he would disappear again, leaving a strangely silent and empty hallway.

Back inside the dorm, Peter laughs, saying, “I doubt anyone is currently standing in the hallway listening in on us.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure!” warned Erin.

Peter smiles and replies, “Well, do you want to know or not?”

“Of course, but first we need to get these guys to listen.” She glanced at the little trio sitting and planning, which really meant arguing and gesturing and laughing and being overall loud and crazy, not really getting much done.

“Don’t worry. I know exactly what’ll make them give me their undivided attention.” Peter winked, then took off silently. Once in the air he accelerated to a speed so fast that Erin could no longer follow his motions. But she did see what seemed to be a slight wind tugging at the ends of Kathryn’s hair. This same wind seemed to lift up the ends of Tily’s sweater and make Marcus yell,”Peter!”

“Fine!” the wind seemed to say, and all of a sudden, there stood Peter, his face pink and sweaty, his brown hair ruffled, and a sparkle in his eye. “I just wanted to get your attention.”

“I think there is a more reasonable and less exhausting way to get our attention,” replied Marcus curtly.

“Well, now its done and I need to tell you guys about something. Or rather, someone.” Peter explained. ” I know the perfect solution to your problem.”

“Get to the point already!” Kathryn exclaimed.

“The solution is a certain sister of mine named Leanna.”

“Leanna? LEANNA is your solution? She’s all the way in the back of the high school!!!!” exclaimed Tily.

“I think I know where my sister currently is. And anyway, I know a shortcut.”

“And what is this ‘shortcut’ you speak of?”

“Follow me!” And with that, he opened the door and started walking down the hall. The others looked at each other. Shrugging, Tily said, “What harm is there in knowing the truth?” With that, she started down the hall. Erin and Kathryn hurried after her. Marcus hesitated a moment, then shrugged and walked away, carefully closing the door behind him. Had he been paying attention as he walked away, he might have heard the light footsteps that followed him down the hall.