Dresden Academy

"Want to explain to me why you punched Luka Nikitin? And our sister?"

"Oh shit," Tim replied as he realized where that last punch had flown.

"She's fine. A fucking champ. A proper Ford," Abby replied. She was glad they were out of earshot and she could be her usual foul-mouthed self. "Someone said you were fighting over Adelaide." It wasn't so much an accusation, just a morbid curiosity. She didn't want to know. She had to know.

Tim sighed heavily enough to blow a piggy's house down. He didn't want to have this conversation tonight. "Not on your birthday, dude," he replied with respect. "Can't ruin it for you entirely."

"Already ruined so far as I'm concerned." She looked at her watch. "Besides, we're only ten minutes in."

It was tradition in the Ford house to celebrate the girls' birthday on President's day instead of their actual date of birth. It just so happened that the day after President's day was the date this year and the party rolled over into their birthday.

"I'm into her. There. I said it. I'm sorry. I know you hate her guts and all that, but I like her. Have for a long time."