Chapter Five

Vicky hurried into the school cafeteria, and Luke was waiting for her just inside the doorway. He tapped in her shoulder. “Vicky . . .”

Vicky jumped and whirled around. “Luke!” she said in surprise. “You scared me!”

He laughed softly. “What’s the hurry?”

She grinned. “I was running late, and I didn’t want you to think that I was a no show.”

He raised an eyebrow and smiled. “So, you care what I think?”

Her eyes sparkled. “Of course, I care.”

He draped his arm around her shoulders. “That’s nice to know. Let’s go get in line before we run out of time to eat.” They joined the lunch line and Luke put a tray on the rail. Vicky reached for a tray and Luke shook his head. “I’ve got this.”

She rolled her eyes. “Luke, you don’t need to be doing this.”

He grinned. “Just get what you want to eat off of the line.”

Vicky rolled her eyes again and picked up a hamburger, a plate of fries, a bottle of juice, and she put them on the tray. “Thank you.”

Luke laughed and picked up the same thing. He paid the cashier, and he looked around the room. “There’s a table in the corner,” he said, and Vicky led the way to the table. They sat down at the table and Vicky took her plate of fries and popped one in her mouth.

She grinned. “So, what did Father Turner say to you?”

He rolled his eyes. “I had to go to the confessional.” He shook his head. “They’re so predictable around here.” He laughed. “My sentence was twenty-five ‘Hail Mary’s’ just like I said it would be.”

She laughed. “Well, I’m glad it wasn’t that bad,” she said and popped another fry into her mouth.

He laughed. “How were your last two classes?”

She sat back and frowned. “Don’t ask.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I really want to know.”

She sighed heavily. “Well for starters, Sister Phoebe was the teacher for my second period class.” His eyes sparkled; he grinned, and waited for her to continue. “Then I had a run-in with Sara.”

“Sara.”

She nodded. “Yeah, Sister Phoebe told me to take the desk next to Sara.”

“And . . .”

Vicky shrugged. “Sara and I are going to wind up butting heads.”

“Vicky, you need to be careful around Sara . . .”

She held up a hand to stop him from going on. “You leave Sara to me.” He opened his mouth to object. “Luke, I already know what Sara is.” She shook her head. “I am not afraid of Sara.”

He swallowed hard. “Maybe you should be . . .”

She popped the last bite of hamburger in her mouth; she chewed it and swallowed it. She put her hand over Luke’s. “Listen, Luke, I appreciate your concern.”

“Vicky, Sara is a witch,” he growled and looked around cautiously before he continued. “If she doesn’t like someone, she usually whips up a curse. I don’t want anything to happen to you. I don’t think you’re taking the Sara situation seriously enough.”

She sat back in her chair and frowned. “I know Sara is a witch. I’ve already been talking with Rachael . . .”

He threw out his hand. “Rachael is a perfect example of what I’m trying to tell you . . .”

Her eyes flashed with anger. “Rachael is the perfect example of why I have to stop Sara.

That poor girl . . .”

He took her hand in his. “I don’t want you to be ‘that poor girl’,” he said softly.

She smiled. “I can handle myself.”

He sat back in his chair and sighed in defeat. “I hope you’re right.” He smiled back at her sadly. “I’ll stick by you no matter what happens.”

She placed her hand on his cheek and smiled. “Luke, nothing is going to happen to me.

Trust me.”

He smiled. “I do trust you. I just don’t trust Sara.”

She shrugged. “I’m sorry I even brought the subject up.”

He stood up and picked up the tray. “Unfortunately it’s time to go back to class. Meet me in the parking lot by your car after school.”

She grinned. “Sure, I’ll wait for you.”