The ground rumbled. Roots soon broke through the ground, pulled it apart, and curled over the edges of a hole. A curly blond head framed inside the hood of a green sweatshirt poked out. Tram squinted in the sunlight and grinned when he saw me.

My heart danced. It couldn't help it. Even with his face more banged up than my whole body, he still dazzled me. I stood like an idiot, stuck to the ground.

"Hi," I said.

Tram climbed out of the hole, his olive eyes ...