MG set the box on the table at the front of the main hall, smiling proudly at it even though he couldn’t see his cake through the white cardboard. He turned, spying Landon talking to Rafael on the other side of the room. MG straightened his spine and adjusted his collar. If he could master the twins’ cake, he could handle what he was about to do.

“Hey!” MG said brightly, stepping up next to them. He smiled at Landon. “Can I borrow you for a sec?”

“Sure?” 

Landon followed MG to the hallway, where it was much quieter away from the noise of party preparations and party preppers. 

“You, um, I mean, do you …” MG was stammering over his words now that it was the two of them alone, standing so close. “The party!” he said suddenly, gesturing wildly back towards the hall. “Are you going?”

Landon smiled and lowered his gaze like MG had just figured out one of his secrets. “I was kind of thinking of skipping it. Since I don’t really have a date, and Rafael’s going with Lizzie.”

“Do you maybe want to go together then?” MG’s heart pounded in his chest, and he was thankful that he was the vampire with superhearing and not Landon. “Since, you know, Rafael’s going with Lizzie and all.” 

“Yeah.” Landon nodded, slowly at first and then more enthusiastically. “Yeah, I’d love to.”

“Yes!” MG pumped his fist once before he caught himself and reeled in the excitement. “I mean, cool. I’ll catch you later then.”

“Yeah.” Landon grinned. “See you then.”