Free Fire With Fire by Jenny Han, Siobhan Vivian Page A

saw. The kids love it. They love him. I’ve asked him
repeatedly, but he won’t do it. Fine, he is on crutches, but he
could at least show up in the costume.
“If Fall Fest sucks this year, it’s on us,” I warn.
“You mean it’s on you,” Reeve corrects me.
I glare at him. “It’s on all of us. Including and especially you.
You know how much the kids love your Jason routine. I don’t
get why you can’t at least—”
“What’s not to get?” Reeve snaps, pointing at his crutches.
“How is he supposed to run around the gym chasing after
kids on crutches?” Rennie asks, and then lets out a groan. “I
mean, hello!”
In a shaky voice I protest, “He exercises, like, every day!”
Rennie leans over Reeve to say, “Yeah, in the pool and in the
weight room! He can’t put weight on his leg, Lillia. Don’t talk
about things you don’t understand.”
Reeve puts his hand on Rennie’s shoulder and she relaxes
back in her seat, shaking her head in disgust. Then she turns
away from me and starts talking about her costume again.
That’s when it hits me. Rennie did this on purpose. She made
it so no one would help me, so I’d be all alone. She convinced
Ashlin to have people over when she knew I couldn’t make it.
I finally understand what’s been staring me in the face. Rennie
doesn’t want to be my friend anymore. She is officially through
with me. And if Rennie’s through with me, she’s going to make
damn sure that everybody else is too. How many times have
I seen her do this exact same thing? Ice somebody out of the
group because they pissed her off in some way? I’ve seen it happen, and I’ve stood by and said nothing, because I was afraid,
and it was easy. Never ever did I think it would be me on the
receiving end.
Alex is looking around the table in disbelief. “Are you guys
serious? We can’t help Lil out for one night?” When nobody
answers, he tosses his fork down on his tray. “You guys suck.
Lil, what can I do? Tell me what you need.”
Keeping my head down, I gather my stuff together as quickly
as possible. Quietly I say to Alex, “If you have time this weekend, will you come over and help me put some candy bags
together for the prizes?”
Alex nods. “I’ll come over tonight, straight from practice.”
He says it really loud, and gives everyone else a look. He turns
back to me and grins. “But don’t worry, I’ll shower first.”
It takes a lot of effort to smile back, but I do. “You better,”
I say.
Then I sneak out to the parking lot and cry in my car. So
this is how it all ends, after everything Rennie and I have been
through.
    Nadia, Alex, and I have an assembly line set up in the dining
room. Nadia is Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Sour Patch Kids
and Snickers; Alex is FireBalls, Lemonheads, and Starbursts; I’m
Nerds and lollipops, plus I tie the ribbon onto the bag in a bow.
It’s the most boring Friday night ever, but I couldn’t be happier
this task is getting done.
    I hold one up for inspection. “Does this one seem a little light
on sweets to you?”
“Alex didn’t put enough FireBalls in,” Nadia tattletales.
“Snitch,” he says, poking her in the side. “It’s fine. I’m doing
the kid a favor, less cavities. Besides, you already tied the ribbon, Lil.”
“Yeah, I know.” I bite my lip, weighing the bag in my hand.
“I don’t want the kids to feel cheated out of anything.”
“Maybe we should open up the Starburst packs to make the
bags look fuller,” Nadia suggests.
I clap my hands together. “Perfect!”
Alex gives her a high five and Nadia grins at both of us.
“Alex, you be in charge of that,” I tell him, and he salutes me.
“Oh, I talked to my mom, and she said she was going to call
Joy tonight,” Alex says, carefully opening up a candy bag. His
hair is still wet from his shower. He really did come right over.
“Who’s Joy?” Nadia wants to know.
“She’s one of the owners of Milky Morning,”