She bursts out laughing.

Lucky grins.

Merry tries to look innocent for a few seconds, and then gives in to the giggles.

"I would absolutely love to introduce you two to my sister immediately but unfortunately class starts soon. What're your schedules like?"

"I've got English first, Lucky has History..."

"We are in zero of the same classes - excuse me, we do both have gym, just not at the same time - but we've both got lunch at noon."

"Oh, good, Emily and I have lunch at noon--American History?" she asks, "And is it AP English or English 10?"

"Assume all Merry's classes are AP unless specified otherwise, I think the only one he's got that isn't is World History because there wasn't an advanced option."

"And yes, American History."

"Turn right, take the staircase on your left, and American History is just across the hall. The teacher, Mr. Phelps, he's terrifying if you don't turn in the homework or get caught cheating but otherwise very nice. AP English you share with a friend of mine, her name's Anna-Sophia, she'll be the quiet brunette with the, mm, she's wearing a light blue shirt today I think...she's fairly shy but she trusts me, tell her Edie told you to say 'chestnut waterboarding grasshoppers' and she'll warm up."

"Waterboarding a grasshopper sounds like a hell of a logistical challenge," he remarks. "Thanks. What did I do to merit the recognition password on such short acquaintance?"

"I'm a good judge of character?"

"I await the bloodstained postcard," says Lucky.

"Lucky," she says solemnly, "I promise you, if I ever elope with your brother and shoot someone at the wedding, I will take the time to find a postcard they didn't bleed on."

"Thank you! I appreciate that!"

"It's the least I could do, under the circumstances."

"People underestimate the importance of the little things!"

"Sad but true."

"Anyway: class. See you!"

"See you!" She heads off.

When Merry gets to AP English there will already be at least one student there; a quiet brunette in a light blue shirt.

He sits next to her.

"Hi," he says. "Merry Nelson. Edie told me to tell the quiet brunette in the light blue shirt 'chestnut waterboarding grasshoppers'."

She glances at him nervously when he sits next to her, but dissolves into giggles when he tells her the password.

"Nice to meet you too," he says.

"Sorry, sorry," she says, still giggling. "Anna-Sophia Sayers. Edie and I don't have a password, she just correctly identified giving you one anyway as being an inimitably her thing to do."