She hesitated.
“He’s a Rebel, Skye. First and foremost. He’s part of a group that wants to use your powers to control the universe. You think I’m going to trust him?”
For once, I didn’t have a response.
Aunt Jo’s eyebrows formed the same worry crease that mine did. Asher had pointed it out to me once, on the roof, as we stared at the night sky.
“I want to, Skye,” she said softly. “Just as much as you do. Let’s leave it at that, for now.”
I nodded. “Do you trust me?”
“Of course I do,” she said.
“Then let me find Aaron and James. It’s our only chance.”
The door to the kitchen burst open, and Cassie, Dan, Ian, and Raven came in with the rest of the dishes.
“So,” Raven said, putting a stack of plates on the counter and turning to face us. Her blond hair flashed in the harsh light of the kitchen. Her eyes were fierce. “Do we have a plan?”
I glanced at Aunt Jo. She set her jaw, and then she nodded, imperceptibly. A silent signal meant just for me.
We were a motley crew. Who would think we had it in us to keep two powerful angelic forces from colliding and destroying the world? But if the feeling I had was right, it wouldn’t be just the six of us by the time we were done. We would be an entire army of Rogues, hundreds of thousands of us—with me at the helm. It didn’t make sense for me to question what I was about to do. I just had to leap.
I met Raven’s cool, blue eyes.
“We have a plan,” I said. My parents may have failed, but now it was up to me to finish the fight. “Let’s get to work.”
4 
“Attention, Northwood juniors and seniors. The countdown to prom has begun!”
Student body president Maria Fouler’s voice bounced off the lockers and echoed down the halls. We all glared up at the speaker.
The five of us were standing around my locker before first period. Unfortunately, just because we were forming a plan to save the world, didn’t mean we were exempt from school.
“No!” Dan cried in mock protest, holding his arms up to shield his eyes. “Not the P-word!” Cassie shot him a look.
Maria’s too-chipper voice continued: “The sign-up sheet for the planning committee is posted outside of the cafeteria. I hope as many of you as possible come on down to sign up and make this year’s junior-senior prom our best yet!”
Cassie shot a sideways glance at me, and grinned. “Dress shopping,” she mouthed. I rolled my eyes and laughed.
“The nomination period is also open for the prom court, beginning today. You can nominate someone for the court, prince and princess, or king and queen. A candidate must have at least two separate people nominate them in order to be considered eligible.”
Cassie’s eyebrows shot up. “I know a perfect couple for prince and princess.”
“You do?” said Dan. “Who?”
“I’ll nominate you,” I mouthed reassuringly. One of my favorite things about Cassie was her unfailing optimism in the face of crisis—and yet, something told me she didn’t fully understand that come June, there might not be a prom. There may no longer be a River Springs, Colorado, or even a United States, or even, for that matter, a planet earth. Everything might be gone. Or, on the other hand, they might still be here—but we might not. If Cassie did somehow realize this and still managed to be so optimistic, then I had to give her a lot more credit.
The buzz of conversation resumed again in the hall. I could hear people discussing who they would nominate, where they would buy their perfect dress. But our conversation was more serious than that.
“I just want to make sure I understand what’s at stake,” Ian said, glancing uneasily at the rest of the students brushing past us, all of whom were vibrating with prom excitement. “If the Order wins, all of our lives will be controlled, down to the tiniest detail, forever. Our destiny will never really be in our own hands, and we’ll be at the mercy of some fierce and ruthless angels.”
I nodded grimly.
“Uplifting,” Cassie mumbled, taking a sip of her Mountain Dew. She never drank coffee—she claimed it was bad for her singing voice. But that didn’t stop her from consuming upwards of three caffeinated sodas a day, and at least two of those before lunch.
“But if the Rebellion wins,” said Raven, bristling a little at the description of the Order, “the world will erupt into chaos. Anarchy. And there won’t be any way to stop them.”
“Yup,” I said. “That’s about it.”
“Kind of puts prom in perspective, huh?” Cassie said, chucking her empty soda bottle in the recycling bin at the end of the hall. “Ooh,” she said. “Three-pointer. Maybe I should try out for the basketball team—what do you think, Dan?”
Dan booped Cassie on the nose. “Sure,” he said. “And I saw this awesome baby blue tux in the window of the vintage store in Darien. I think it was velvet. Or maybe polyester? What’s the difference again?”
“Dan!” She swatted him. “You promised! Don’t,” she said through gritted teeth, “take this single joy away from me. Or it may be the only thing you take from me for a while, got it?” She looked at him pointedly. Dan’s face turned pale.
“Wait,” he said, his voice rising in panic. “I didn’t mean—”
“Maybe I’ll just go looking for another prom date,” Cassie huffed, and stormed off down the hall toward homeroom. “One who will take his attire seriously. I hear Trey is single again,” she threw back over her shoulder. Trey was the drummer in Cassie’s band, the Mysterious Ellipses.
“Trey?” Dan called, hurrying after her. “He hasn’t changed out of that plaid shirt since September!”
I couldn’t help but smile as I watched him follow her down the hall. I secretly dreamed of one day having a relationship as fun and supportive as theirs. They fought constantly, but they were happy. I’d even settle for normal, to start.
“Well, I was planning to be the one to break up this party, but it looks like I didn’t have to,” Raven said. “I’m off to class.” She turned to leave, but hesitated. “Be careful, Skye,” she said. “Watch your back.” I flinched. The last time Raven had said that to me, she’d meant she was the one I should be watching out for. It was still so surreal that we were now on the same side. “If you need anything, let me know.”
“I will,” I said. “Thanks.”
It was just me and Ian in the hall as the crowds thinned out, heading to the next class.
“Skye,” he said, “I—”
He hesitated. I noticed suddenly that he didn’t look good. His eyes were bloodshot, and even his freckles were sort of drooping. I knew things weren’t easy for any of us right now, but it seemed like Ian was taking it especially hard.
“Are you okay?” I asked. “You look a little pale.”
He glanced nervously down at his hands, then back at me.
“I’ll see you later,” he said. Unsettled, I watched him walk down the hall and turn the corner into class.
I thought we said no secrets, I thought to myself. I guess it was going to take some getting used to for everyone.
I had a free period, so I went to the library. If my goal was now to reunite Aunt Jo with Aaron Ward and James Harrison, I had to embark on the somewhat daunting task of figuring out where they might be.
I sat down at a computer and pulled up the white pages online. The girl next to me glanced at the screen, and I felt the hair at the nape of my neck prickle. She had short blond hair cut in a pixie style, and ice blue eyes. A Guardian, for sure. It reminded me that I had to be careful—that I was being watched, dogged, followed, all the time. They were waiting, holding their breath for the perfect time to strike.