In Other Lands

by Sarah Rees Brennan

It was a really enjoyable half hour until Luke showed up. “So sorry,” said Elliot politely to Bright-Eyes, and then to Luke: “Are you lost?” Luke was giving the library a look of unhappy mistrust. In fact, now Elliot was paying attention, he looked more downcast than usual: it probably could not be attributed to the library. Possibly someone had made fun of his hair. “You have to come to the picnic,” he said. “Why?” Elliot snapped. “My parents are expecting you,” Luke said reluctantly, as if each word were a tooth that had to be pulled. “Why?” Elliot repeated inflexibly. “I don’t know why, Elliot!” Luke snapped back. “I didn’t tell them you were coming. But they asked where you were, and I said you were in the library, and they said to go fetch you then.” “How did you know I was in the library?” “Oh, come on,” said Luke.