The absolute worst thing about being fourteen was that almost everyone else’s interest in girls had caught fire and caught up with Elliot’s at last, and thus Elliot was no longer the only one actively wooing Serene. Though he did flatter himself that he had got the head start, and made real progress. Plus he was easily the most cunning person in the entire training camp, and had several cunning courtship plans. He put one of them into action at one of their lunchtimes, when Serene had once more been waylaid by other boys. They were always offering to teach her how to do this or that warlike
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