Lewis decided that regardless of whether he was hallucinating or dreaming he was going to make the most of his time with the seemingly omnipotent creature. Mr. Gray cautioned against walking past the main office, so Lewis took the steps back down into the courtyard instead. The halls were empty of students with final period having already started.

Mr. Gray was back inside Lewis's backpack, his head poking out this time, so that he could give him instructions while he walked. "Wait by the door and don't go back inside until exactly twelve thirty-four," he said. "The day is better when you avoid the hall monitor."

Lewis checked his watch. He had two minutes to kill. "What about after that?" he asked. "I'm going to be in trouble for being late to chemistry."

Mr. Gray chuckled. "When you walk in, tell your teacher there was a mistake with your printed schedule and that you've corrected it. I nudged everything else into alignment already so you can enjoy the rest of the ride. I'll tell you when you need to say something specific."

Lewis did exactly as he was told. He waited until his watch read twelve thirty-four and then reentered the building. As he passed the restroom nearest his chemistry class he heard pained moans coming from inside the men's room.

Mr. Gray giggled again. "Just one of the details," he explained.

Lewis grimaced.

Despite Mr. Gray's assurance that everything would work out for the best, Lewis felt anxious as he approached the classroom door. He could hear Mr. Jenkins leading the class inside. He paused at the door and took a breath before entering. All eyes shifted to Lewis as he stepped inside. Mr. Jenkins was visibly annoyed by the interruption, his eyebrows lowering into a deep frown at the sight of him, but Lewis followed the script laid out to him by Mr. Gray. He spotted Landon on the far side of the room while he was speaking. Another damn class with Landon?! Luck did not seem to be on his side... but then again, Mr. Gray was here now. His tormentor had a sour look on his face.

Mr. Jenkins glanced around the classroom. Everyone was already split up into pairs, working on their first lab. "Is Jake still not back from the restroom?" he asked the class. Several kids shrugged or shook their heads. "I'm going to have to send someone out to track him down if he doesn't return soon," he mused. He looked back over at Lewis. "How about you take Jake's spot and partner with McKenzie, and I'll just give Jake extra homework if he comes back."

Lewis's eyes shot over to Jake's empty seat and found Kenzie staring back at him, doe eyed. Next he looked over at Landon. The bully's glare intensified as Lewis took Jake's seat.

"Let me out," requested Mr. Gray.

Lewis placed his backpack on the lab table and unzipped it. Mr. Gray hopped out spryly and stretched his arms.

"Enjoy yourself," suggested Mr. Gray before running off down the long lab table, leaving Lewis alone to chat with

Kenzie.

Lewis kept his eyes on Mr. Gray. He watched curiously as the creature began to fiddle with the Bunsen burner over at Landon's station. Landon noticed Lewis peering his way and shot him another dirty look.

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"How was your summer?" asked Kenzie, drawing his attention back.

Lewis swallowed the lump in his throat. "It was good," he said. "Low key. What about you?"

"Spent time at cheer camp, mostly. It was fun, but I missed the boys," she said with a smile.

Lewis blushed.

They started into their lab work. Being late, Lewis missed the first portion of the lab, but he was able to jump right into the second experiment, heating up a mixture of chemicals over their Bunsen burner. His fingers accidentally grazed up against Kenzie's as they both reached for the burner at the same time. Kenzie's hand was there first. They shared an awkward smile as Lewis retracted his hand, letting Kenzie take the lead with setting up the equipment.

Mr. Gray came trotting back over. "Ask for her phone number. Say it's so you can help each other out with the homework later."

Lewis blushed again just thinking about it, but he said the words.

"Sure," said Kenzie. She grabbed Lewis's arm and wrote her number on the palm of his hand, adding a little heart at the end.

Lewis wanted to jump with glee. Landon was not going to be happy. Lewis glanced over towards Landon's station once again just in time to see Landon's Bunsen burner flare up in a massive fireball. Mr. Gray danced back and forth in front of Lewis, squealing in delight. Landon's sleeve was engulfed with flames. Several students screamed as he rushed to the eyewash station and doused his entire arm with the spray-nozzle faucet. Although the fire was out, Landon still wore a pained grimace.

"Nurse's office, now," ordered Mr. Jenkins.

Lewis was shaken. He felt somewhat responsible for Mr. Gray's tampering. Still, he couldn't help but be amused by Landon catching on fire—if anyone deserved such a thing, it was Landon—but he wouldn't wish for anyone to be seriously injured.

Kenzie didn't look overly concerned that Landon had just been in flames. She merely rolled her eyes, ignoring the whole scene. "He's always doing something stupid," she said. Lewis had to wonder just how close they were.

While everyone else was watching Landon's misfortune, Lewis realized a girl in the back of the classroom was staring in his own direction instead. He'd never seen the girl before. She was Native American—long, straight, dark hair hanging well below her shoulders. Her brow was furrowed with concern, but it did not appear to be for Landon. She turned away as soon as she noticed Lewis looking back at her, hiding her face in her textbook.

Lewis shook it off. He was used to negative attention.

The rest of class went by swimmingly, with Lewis sharing laughs with Kenzie. Mr. Gray told him snippets of things to say from time to time, just enough to keep the conversation rolling. Lewis had never felt so suave.

Before he knew it, class was over. Lewis was a little disappointed. He'd never spent so much time with Kenzie before, and he was feeling extra confident having Mr. Gray's guidance. He didn't want it to end! While Mr. Gray was busy packing himself away in Lewis's backpack, the Native girl he'd caught staring at him earlier brushed past him and slipped a folded piece of notebook paper into his hand. Lewis cocked his head in confusion. When he looked up, the girl was glancing back his way. Her wide-eyed expression was wrought with worry. Lewis realized in an instant that she was not looking at him, but directly at Mr. Gray, sitting snug in his pack. In another instant she had rushed out the door and disappeared into the throng of students already in the hallway outside.

Lewis hefted his backpack up, securing Mr. Gray to his back before nonchalantly unfolding the note:

Don't trust it.

The vague warning sent a shiver down his spine. By the time he exited the classroom, the girl was nowhere to be found.