the note probably meant her new friends: either Alyec or Brian. More likely Brian since Alyec was a known factor, a normal high school kid with roots in the community. She didn’t really know anything about Brian besides what he had told her. …
Then again, he could also be the “friend” who was warning her. But he hadn’t been in the café—in fact, Chloe didn’t really know anyone at the Black Rooster except by sight. When was the note slipped into her pocket? Maybe it wasn’t even meant for her.
She checked the locks on the doors several times before going to sleep—or trying to go to sleep. She felt pretty sure she could handle a daytime attack by a street thug, but a nighttime ambush would be another story.
The next Monday at school Chloe was even grumpier and sleepier than usual. She kept looking up suddenly, jumping at noises, and seeing things out of the corners of her eyes. All for what was probably just a prank. As soon as she got a free period, she went to the newspaper office.
“Hey, Paul,” she said, making straight for the couch.
“Chloe,” he answered uneasily. He was sitting at the computer, playing some bright-colored and contraband video game.
“I’m wiped. Do you mind?” She threw herself into the couch.
“No. Go ahead.” He stood up and played with a pencil for a minute. “I … might have overreacted Friday night. … Are we cool?” he finally asked.
Even through her sleep-thick haze, Chloe smiled. Paul actually cared if she was angry at him! Then again, she had a complete right to be.
She raised her arm to give him a thumbs-up.
“Cool.” He threw his bag over his shoulder. “Just close the door on your way out, okay? It’s already locked.”
But Chloe was already asleep.
She woke up perfectly, precisely forty-five minutes later, almost in time for phys ed. Which was really odd because usually once Chloe was out, she was flat out until someone woke her up. The second, warning bell rang and dozens of classroom doors slammed shut, students trapped inside, being forced to learn.
She stretched and yawned and scratched herself, rolling her head and shaking the stiffness out of her shoulders—she hadn’t moved from the position she’d fallen down in, and it wasn’t really the most comfortable of couches.
She slumped out of the room, pausing to pick up the obituary sections of the local newspapers lying around and remembering to make sure the door was closed like Paul had said. She started down the hall toward gym, possibly her most-hated class. Although, she considered, maybe I could surprise them with a thing or two. But probably not. The one thing every TV show, book, and comic book had ever suggested about people with special powers was to never reveal them to the outside world. At the worst she could be kidnapped and dissected by the government. At best Mr. Parmalee would insist she go for a drug test.
“Chloe King!”
Alyec was coming down the empty hall. She smiled.
“What are you doing at this end of the school?”
“I am going for my flute lesson,” he said, somewhat embarrassed. He held up a small black case. “I have always wanted to learn it, but there was no money or opportunity in Russia.”
“Funny, I would have picked you for a boner,” she said.
His eyes widened.
“ Trom boner? You know? That and trumpet are what all of the popular guys play.”
“Well, I am not a normal popular guy. And anyway, if I am so popular, how come you haven’t asked to see me since the sea lions?” There was a sexy little smile that he was just hiding. Chloe felt a shiver run through her body. “How’s Brian?”
“He’s great.” Except for that whole lack-of-kissing-and-phone-calls thing.
“Oh yeah? You really like him, huh? I think you’re just playing hard to get.”
“Awww, what’s the matter? Keira not enough for you?”
“Nope,” he answered, grinning. Then he leaned over and kissed her. “She is just a stupid little girl,” he whispered
Then again, he could also be the “friend” who was warning her. But he hadn’t been in the café—in fact, Chloe didn’t really know anyone at the Black Rooster except by sight. When was the note slipped into her pocket? Maybe it wasn’t even meant for her.
She checked the locks on the doors several times before going to sleep—or trying to go to sleep. She felt pretty sure she could handle a daytime attack by a street thug, but a nighttime ambush would be another story.
The next Monday at school Chloe was even grumpier and sleepier than usual. She kept looking up suddenly, jumping at noises, and seeing things out of the corners of her eyes. All for what was probably just a prank. As soon as she got a free period, she went to the newspaper office.
“Hey, Paul,” she said, making straight for the couch.
“Chloe,” he answered uneasily. He was sitting at the computer, playing some bright-colored and contraband video game.
“I’m wiped. Do you mind?” She threw herself into the couch.
“No. Go ahead.” He stood up and played with a pencil for a minute. “I … might have overreacted Friday night. … Are we cool?” he finally asked.
Even through her sleep-thick haze, Chloe smiled. Paul actually cared if she was angry at him! Then again, she had a complete right to be.
She raised her arm to give him a thumbs-up.
“Cool.” He threw his bag over his shoulder. “Just close the door on your way out, okay? It’s already locked.”
But Chloe was already asleep.
She woke up perfectly, precisely forty-five minutes later, almost in time for phys ed. Which was really odd because usually once Chloe was out, she was flat out until someone woke her up. The second, warning bell rang and dozens of classroom doors slammed shut, students trapped inside, being forced to learn.
She stretched and yawned and scratched herself, rolling her head and shaking the stiffness out of her shoulders—she hadn’t moved from the position she’d fallen down in, and it wasn’t really the most comfortable of couches.
She slumped out of the room, pausing to pick up the obituary sections of the local newspapers lying around and remembering to make sure the door was closed like Paul had said. She started down the hall toward gym, possibly her most-hated class. Although, she considered, maybe I could surprise them with a thing or two. But probably not. The one thing every TV show, book, and comic book had ever suggested about people with special powers was to never reveal them to the outside world. At the worst she could be kidnapped and dissected by the government. At best Mr. Parmalee would insist she go for a drug test.
“Chloe King!”
Alyec was coming down the empty hall. She smiled.
“What are you doing at this end of the school?”
“I am going for my flute lesson,” he said, somewhat embarrassed. He held up a small black case. “I have always wanted to learn it, but there was no money or opportunity in Russia.”
“Funny, I would have picked you for a boner,” she said.
His eyes widened.
“ Trom boner? You know? That and trumpet are what all of the popular guys play.”
“Well, I am not a normal popular guy. And anyway, if I am so popular, how come you haven’t asked to see me since the sea lions?” There was a sexy little smile that he was just hiding. Chloe felt a shiver run through her body. “How’s Brian?”
“He’s great.” Except for that whole lack-of-kissing-and-phone-calls thing.
“Oh yeah? You really like him, huh? I think you’re just playing hard to get.”
“Awww, what’s the matter? Keira not enough for you?”
“Nope,” he answered, grinning. Then he leaned over and kissed her. “She is just a stupid little girl,” he whispered
Similar Books
