I bite my lip. I know what Cam’s really asking:If they don’t want to skip school, do the two of us go anyway?
I don’t like the idea of leaving school on our own. I don’t want the yearbook team to feel like Cam’s barging in and ripping the treasure hunt away from them. Still…I don’t know if I can wait a whole additional week before going back. Everything is at our fingertips right now.
“Theywill,” I say firmly. “We’ll all go tomorrow.”
Cam gives me a little salute. “Whatever you say, Captain.”
I make a face. He winks and walks off in the opposite direction.
I slink into the Bat Cave as soon as class gets out. Sunny rises from her chair the moment my foot touches the last step.
“You’re late.”
I check my phone. “It’s 4:01.”
“Exactly,” Sunny says. Her voice sounds strained and flustered. “We thought maybe the British interloper kidnapped you for some X-ray glasses or something.”
“Who, me?” Cam bounds down the stairs behind me. “Wow, Sunny—you’re getting almosttoogood with yourNational Treasurereferences. Trying to impress someone?”
Sunny rolls her eyes. “Shut up. I guess we’re all here, then.”
I take my usual place between Gabriel and Julia. Cam starts to pull another chair toward the group, but Sunny holds up a hand and stops him.
“Over there,” she says.
For the first time, I notice a chair sitting right in front of the projector screen.
I look at Sunny. “What’s going on?” I shift and see the heading on Julia’s notebook next to me.
Trial of Cam.
“What?” I say, standing. “Why are we holding a trial?”
“Relax,” Gabriel says. “It’s not like we’re charging Cam with a crime or anything.”
“Even though hestoleour flyer,” Julia grumbles.
I look down at her, surprised. I didn’t realize that Julia of all people could sound so angry.
“We’re just trying to decide if we want to let Cam into the group,” Sunny says. Her mouth is pinched in a way that tells me what her personal feelings on the question already are. And with Julia pissed off too…we’re barely two minutes into the meeting, and already the history center plan seems like an uphill battle.
Cam goes and sits in the front chair without any protest. He slaps his hands over his knees and waits expectantly.
“Cam,” Gabriel says. He turns on the projector so the light shines directly into Cam’s face. “Why do you want to join Treasure Island Hoes?”
Cam stifles a laugh. “Is that…is that the official name of this group now?”
Gabriel shrugs. “Either that or Dorothy and Friends. I haven’t decided yet.”
“I see.” Cam interlocks his fingers. “Well—hoes or friends, either way—to the best of my knowledge, this is a group interested in treasure hunting. Which is a hobby I happen to enjoy. And, on the plus side, I look very, very sexy holding a shovel. Ivy can attest to this.”
I bury my face in my palm.
“He’s not taking this seriously.” Julia shakes her head. She points the end of her pen at Cam. “You’re not even taking this seriously.”
Cam raises his arms. “I’m sitting in a chair with a freaking spotlight in my face! I would say I’m taking this plenty seriously. I do bring a lot to the table, and if we could just get over this damn trial, Ivy and I can present our actual updates on the treasure hunt!”
Sunny freezes. Slowly, she turns to me. “What updates?”
