The next step was switching it with Laurel's own bottle. I recruited Kristin for this. Her locker was next to Laurel's in PE, and she was more than willing to help me out. Part of it was that she shared our dislike of Laurel. But also, ever since I'd saved her from the tattoo reaction, Kristin had made it clear that she was indebted to me and had my back in whatever I needed. I didn't like the idea of her owing me, but her assistance did come in handy. She found a moment when Laurel looked away from her unlocked locker and covertly made the switch. We then simply had to wait for the next time Laurel used the shampoo to see the results of my handiwork.
Meanwhile, my other lab experiment wasn't receiving quite the reaction I'd expected. Ms. Terwilliger accepted my report but not the amulet.
"I have no use for it," she remarked, glancing up from the papers I'd handed her.
"Well... I certainly don't either, ma'am."
She set the papers down. "This is all true? You followed every step precisely? I'd certainly have no way of knowing if you'd, ah, fudged some of the details."
I shook my head. "Nope. I followed every step."
"Well, then. It looks like you have yourself a fire-making charm."
"Ma'am," I said, by way of protest.
She grinned. "What do the directions say? Throw it and recite the last incantation? Do you know it?"
'"Into flame, into flame,'" I said promptly. After having typed the spell initially for her notes and then re-creating it, it was hard not to have picked it all up. According to the book - which was an English translation of a Latin text - the language didn't matter so long as the words' meaning was clear.
"Well, there you go. Give it a try one of these days and see what happens. Just don't light any school property on fire. Because that's not safe."
I held up the amulet by the string. "But this isn't real. This is nonsense. It's a bunch of junk thrown together in a bag."
She shrugged. "Who are we to question the ancients?"
I stared, trying to figure out if she was joking. I'd known she was eccentric from day one, but she'd still always come across as a serious scholar. "You can't believe that. Magic like this... it's not real." Without thinking, I added, "Even if it was, ma'am, it's not for humans to mess around with powers like that."
Ms. Terwilliger was silent for several moments. "You truly believe that?"
I fingered the cross around my neck. "It's how I was raised."
"Understood. Well, then, you may do what you like with the amulet. Throw it away, donate it, experiment with it. Regardless, this report's what I need for my book. Thank you for putting in the time - as always, you've done more than was required."
I put the amulet in my purse when I left, not really sure what to do. It was useless... and yet, it had also cost me a lot of time. I was disappointed it wasn't going to have a more meaningful purpose in her research. All that effort gone to waste.
The last of my projects showed development the next day, however. In AP Chemistry, Greg Slade and some of his friends scurried into class just as the bell rang. Our teacher gave them a warning look, but they didn't even notice. Slade was preening over his eagle tattoo, baring it for everyone to see. The ink was gleaming silver again. Next to him, one of his friends was also proudly showing off another silver tattoo. It was a pair of stylized crossed daggers, which was only slightly less tacky than the eagle. This was the same friend who had been worrying earlier this week that he wouldn't be able to get a tattoo. Apparently, things had worked out with the supplier. Interesting. Part of holding off on reporting to the Alchemists had been to see if Nevermore would replenish what I'd stolen.
"It's amazing," Slade's friend said. "The rush."
"I know." Slade gave him a fist bump. "Just in time for tomorrow."
Trey was watching them, his expression dark. "What's tomorrow?" I whispered to him.
He eyed them contemptuously for a few more moments before turning back to me. "Do you live under a rock? It's our first home game."
"Of course," I said. My high school experience wouldn't be complete without the quintessential football hype.
"A lot of good it'll do me," he muttered.
"Your bandages are off," I pointed out.
"Yeah, but Coach is still making me take it easy. Plus, I'm kind of deadweight now." He nodded toward Slade and his friend. "How come they don't get in trouble for those? They're not making any effort to hide them. This school has no discipline anymore. We're practically in anarchy."
I smiled. "Practically."
"Your brother should be on the team, you know. I've seen him in PE. He could be a star athlete if he bothered trying out for anything."
"He doesn't like drawing attention to himself," I explained. "But he'll probably go watch the game."
"Are you going to go to the game?"
"Probably not."
Trey arched an eyebrow. "Hot date?"
"No! But I'm just... well, not into watching sports. And I feel like I should stay with Jill."
"You won't even go to cheer me on?"
"You don't need my cheers."
Trey gave me a disappointed look as a response. "Maybe it's just as well," he said. "Since you really wouldn't get to see me performing to my full level of awesomeness."
"That is a shame," I agreed.
"Oh, stop with the sarcasm already." He sighed. "My dad's going to be the most upset. There are family expectations."
Well, that was something I could relate to. "Is he a football player too?"
"Nah, it's less about football itself than keeping yourself in peak physical shape. Excelling. Ready to be called upon in a moment's notice. Being the best on the team's been a way to keep him proud - until these tattoos started."
"You're good without any tattoo help. He should still be proud," I said.
"You don't know my father."
"No, but I think I know someone just like him." I smiled. "You know, maybe I do need to go to a football game after all."
Trey simply smiled back, and class started.
The day passed calmly, but Jill ran up to me as soon as I entered the locker room for PE.
"I heard from Lia! She asked if I could come by tonight. She's had regular practices with the other models but thought I could use a special session of my own since I don't have any experience. Of course, the thing is, I... you know, need a ride. Do you think... I mean, could you..."