Free Fire Maiden by Terri Farley

points—”
    â€œOh yeah!” someone cheered.
    â€œâ€”and the rest of you will still be eligible for full credit if—listen, please! Don’t celebrate yet, because this next part is crucial. You will only be eligible for full credit if you turn in A-quality work.”
    Darby sprawled back in her desk and looked toward the ceiling with thanks. She couldn’t help noticing Ann had slumped forward at the same time.
    â€œWorking toward that end, we’ll spend the rest of the class period discussing questions that might come up on your projects during spring break.”
    As Mr. Silva spoke, Darby tried to make her brain a thirsty sponge. She understood about searching out parallels between stories and science. She got the part about observation and field notes, too, but Megan had told her that the Two Sisters never did more than breathe out a few wisps of steam.
    â€œMr. Silva?” Darby edged her hand up, barely even with her head. “What if our project is something we can’t observe?”
    â€œI’m sure you’ll think of something. That’s why it’s a vacation assignment. So you’ll have plenty of time.”
    Darby heard a few students grumble about Mr. Silva’s misunderstanding of the word vacation , but most already looked thoughtful.
    â€œNow take five minutes to sit quietly and make some notes. Then I’ll call on a few of you, at random, to see if you’re on the right track.”
    Darby whipped out a pen and paper. For a few seconds she stared at the light blue lines on the paper, waiting for something to materialize.
    She heard students whispering to each other about Kane and Kanaloa, but she didn’t know either of those names. Someone mentioned Maui the trickster, and a guy in the row next to her mentioned Mano. She thought that had something to do with sharks. She wrote down menehune , because she knew who they were, but she didn’t know if they could be linked with volcanoes.
    â€œOh! Pele!” Darby didn’t know excitement had made her blurt the words aloud until Ann smiled and other students giggled.
    â€œVery good, Miss Carter,” her teacher said. “Pele would tie in nicely with your project on volcanoes.”
    Darby was looking down, blushing even though she was right, when she heard a mocking snort from the back of the room.
    â€œShouldn’t go mocking Pele, you know. She’s one bad lady when she’s mad.”
    Darby recognized the voice, and she’d already turned to see the guy in the gray hooded sweatshirt when Mr. Silva said, “Tyson, I’m sure Miss Carter means to do no such thing….”
    â€œI don’t,” Darby insisted, but just as he had earlier, the guy sneered as if she was lying.
    â€œSince, unless I’m mistaken, she lives in Pele’s backyard,” Mr. Silva finished.
    Darby gave a quick nod, looked down to avoid a few curious looks, and scribbled down the names Pele and Pigman and the word fern , and hoped she’d said enough that Mr. Silva wouldn’t call on her.
    She had. Even better, the bell rang, and she could finally explain things to Ann.
    â€œI’m so sorry—” Darby began.
    â€œI’m sorry! I didn’t mean to fall asleep, but—”
    â€œWhat?” Darby and Ann blurted the word together.
    The corridor was filled with students and noise, but Darby felt her thoughts click into place as if she were surrounded by silence.
    â€œYou mean, you didn’t do the experiment?” Darby asked.
    â€œAnd you didn’t do the interview?” Ann gasped.
    â€œI thought we were such good students,” Darby said, giving Ann a gentle elbow in her ribs.
    â€œWhat a couple of slackers,” Ann said, and then they were both laughing and making excuses.
    â€œIt was because Navigator was acting so weird, and then Jonah—”
    â€œI know,” Ann said. “And I was just going to sleep for a