The Slope Rules

by Melanie Hooyenga

  I pull away. “I think I need to get some air.”

  He looks at me tenderly, misinterpreting my signals. “Okay.”

  I turn away and push through our classmates, but he grabs my hand, stopping me. I face him.

  His eyes are clearer, the smile gone. “You don’t have to run away from me. I’ll come with you.”

  Whatever. I let him lead me into the hallway, but he turns around a corner into a darker corridor. “Robbie, wait.” I stop, his fingers still linked through mine. This isn’t what I want.

  “Biz, you just said you wanted to get some air.” He does air quotes around the last part.

  “It wasn’t code for making out. I really needed to get out of there. The lights…” My fingers touch the side of my head. That’s the downside of flickering. I get wicked migraines that sometimes last longer than the time I flickered. But it’s usually worth it, and I’ve gotten used to the constant headaches.

  He rolls his eyes. “It’s practically pitch black in there.”

  I’ve never explained my deal with light to Robbie, and I sure as hell am not going to clue him in now. “Forget it.”

  His hand snakes around my neck and he tries to pull me close.

  My hands flatten against his chest. “Robbie…” I warn.

  A noise behind us makes me turn. Cam is standing at the end of the corridor, bathed in light from the main hallway. And he’s glaring at Robbie.

  Robbie looks at Cam then scowls back at me. “If I didn’t know better I’d think he’s your boyfriend.” He releases my neck and stalks down the dark hall, away from me and Cam.

  “You know that’s not true,” I say to his back.

  “What do you see in him anyway?” Cameron’s at my side, his hands stuffed in his jeans pockets. His hair falls over his eyes as he looks down at me.

  “I don’t know anymore.”

  He smiles. “Well you still owe Amelia one more dance, then everyone’s heading to the boat ramp for the after-party.”

  I sigh dramatically. “Fine. As long as you promise to help me drag her out of there. She’s eyeballing the soccer team and if I know her she won’t want to leave until she talks to one of them.”

  “Deal.”

  I glance over my shoulder to see if Robbie’s still there, but he’s gone. I should probably feel guilty or worried or something, but all I feel is relief.

  ***

  On Monday Robbie stops me in the hall after trig class. “How’d you do on the quiz?”

  I guess he’s not mad at me anymore. “Not well. Why’d Bishop make you stay?”

  “Just giving me crap because I didn’t finish.” He slips his arm around me and tugs me down the hall.

  I don’t mean to stiffen, but my body pauses. I avoided his calls all weekend but I guess he didn’t get the hint.

  “What?” Frustration laces his words and the corners of his eyes crinkle the way they do when he’s about to go off on someone.

  “Nothing. I just…” Don’t like the fact that you’ve gotten too close to me. “I didn’t finish the quiz either and I’m worried I’m gonna fail.”

  Robbie follows me to my locker and waits while I switch my books. “That’s not it. You’ve been acting weird since before the dance.” He touches my arm, a gesture that used to send ripples through me but now makes me want to scratch where he touched, as if that would undo his caress.

  I turn to look at him. “It’s nothing. I’m just worried about my dad.” I hate myself for playing the sympathy card, but it’s the easiest way to deflect attention from what’s really bothering me.

  He drops his hand and his eyes soften. “Did something happen?”

  I close my locker. Nothing happened, but that doesn’t mean I don’t live in an eternal state of worrying about my dad, something most of the kids in school would never understand. “No, but thanks for asking.” I hurry down the hall before he can press further, his eyes burning into my back. I feel like a complete bitch for not telling him the truth.

  Buy the complete Flicker Effect trilogy

  at your favorite online bookseller