"A ditzy little upstart like her? Definitely not," Sabine agreed, following my gaze.
 
 "Well, whatever. I'm kind of dying to see what her version of 'or else' looks like," I said with a laugh
 
 as I stood. "I'm going to go get some more cereal."
 
 As I rejoined the food line, Ivy and Josh were just coming out the
 
 168
 
 other end with their breakfasts. Much to my surprise, Josh said hi to me, but Ivy simply smirked. I
 
 narrowed my eyes at her and didn't look away until the snarky expression completely fell off her
 
 face.
 
 She and Rose had been torturing me. I was sure of it. Now all I had to do was find the proof. And
 
 photograph it.
 
 169
 
 DIFFICULT
 
 As I sat in morning services, listening to the Crom drone on about rules and regulations for
 
 tomorrow night's Easton Holiday Dinner, I realized I felt better than I had at breakfast. About as
 
 good as a person in my rather precarious and pathetic position could feel. I turned in my pew
 
 slightly to glance back at Noelle. She was texting on her iPhone, so she didn't see me. I couldn't
 
 help but cross my fingers. I so had to win her back tomorrow night. Had to. Because if my plan
 
 didn't work... No. I couldn't think that way. I had to be positive.Wiping the worry from my mind, I
 
 started to face forward again, but before I could I caught a glimpse of Josh on the other side of the
 
 aisle, sitting on the end of the last pew. He wasn't paying attention to Cromwell either. Instead, he
 
 was sketching like crazy in a small sketch pad, his brow knit in intense concentration. As I watched
 
 him, he pressed his lips together, then pursed them, then went back
 
 170
 
 to normal and started the process all over again. I smiled, my eyes stinging with nostalgia.
 
 He always did that when he was really in the zone, though he never believed me when I told him
 
 about it. I wished I could take a picture right then and prove it to him, but it wasn't my place
 
 anymore. And besides, Cromwell's henchman Mr. White would see the flash and swoop down on
 
 me like a vulture.
 
 But I couldn't tear my eyes away from Josh. The weak sunlight streaming through the colorful
 
 stained-glass windows danced against the right side of his face. There was a tiny fray in the hem of