Shifters Rule (Rule Series)
Page 26
“Right. Make sure you…”
“Don’t I always?”
It was that weird twin thing again. As if dressing alike wasn’t enough, the girls had to talk in code. Kristen wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but their telepathic talks made her feel like an outsider. She retrieved a yellow notebook and matching mechanical pencil from her locker. Then she hesitated. There was something she needed to talk to Ms. Wilson about after Math class. Should she take the red notebook and pencil for English or would she have time to stop at her locker again?
Reading her mind, Brittany sighed. “Yeah, you’re going to have fun this year. You won’t be able to pull your nose out of the schoolbooks long enough to notice if your pants are on fire. You’re too afraid of getting into trouble. Face it, Kris. You’re a good girl, and good girls can’t be bad.”
Kristen threw the yellow notebook and pencil back into the locker, slamming it shut for the second time. She’d show Brittany she didn’t have to be perfect. “I’m going to class unprepared today... because I don’t care what anyone thinks.”
“Yes, you do. Don’t be stupid. Take the notebook and pencil or risk having a heart attack.”
“I can be fun, Britt. Just watch me.”
“Whatever. I hope you aren’t going to freak out anymore today. I want to relax and have a good time this year, not babysit a crazy person. I’m a senior too, you know. So chill.” She put her sunglasses on and wiggled her fingers. “TTFN.”
The hair at the base of Kristen’s neck prickled, signaling Zach was nearby, probably at his locker. She didn’t understand why she felt his presence like a tangible force. It was ridiculous.
Brittany strutted down the hallway like a model in Paris working the runway. She went in Zach’s direction, and for one horrible second Kristen thought her sister was actually going to engage him in some stupid form of conversation, one idiot to another. Kristen let her pent-up breath out in relief as Brittany passed him by.
Satisfied, Kristen reopened to her locker and retrieved her supplies. Still, the hairs on the back of her neck continued to bristle. She hated Zach Bevian—so why couldn’t she stop thinking about him?
Her nerves sizzled whenever he was close by.
It wasn’t normal.
She headed for class before her eyes could wander back to him again. A familiar face caught her attention and held it. It was Cyndi’s boyfriend, Jake. Kristen started in his direction but stopped cold when a feminine hand touched his cheek, caressing him… and it wasn’t Cyndi’s hand. He laughed and bent down to whisper something in the brunette’s ear. Kristen’s biggest rival, Gina Bentley, laughed up at him. The sound was more painful than fingernails on a chalkboard.
Kristen’s heart dropped to her feet, and the blood drained from her face. That lowdown loser had betrayed her sister!
The two cheaters turned at the same time and looked directly at her. Jake at least had the good sense to flush guiltily, but Gina’s smile widened. The mean and nasty girl knew exactly what she was doing. For the past five years, she’d tried to take Kristen’s place in everything from the cheerleading squad to head of the Junior Prom committee. She’d worked hard to get under Kristen’s skin and failed, so now she was coming at her through her sister. Big mistake.
Kristen had seen enough.
She made a mad dash for the restroom, half-afraid she might kill Jake and Gina on the spot. She shoved the door hard when she reached it. There were a few students inside the small room, some smoking, some talking. They saw her furious face and decided to make a quick exit. Smart girls. Kristen marched back and forth in front of the row of sinks. She couldn’t control the anger anymore. She wanted to kill somebody.
Not just somebody.
She wanted to kill Jake and Gina.
But first she had to break the news to Cyndi. How was she supposed to do that? Poor Cyndi had a big heart that broke over the slightest bad news. She couldn’t possibly withstand this kind of pain. Kristen hissed between her teeth, releasing some of the rage, just enough to keep from exploding.
The mirrors above the sinks began to rattle. Kristen watched as her image rippled. The mirrors shook harder and harder until they shattered. Pieces fell to the floor like jagged raindrops. Her hands trembled. Now what was she going to do with the rest of the building fury?
.
CRUSHED and WITCH HUNT are available now.
You can contact K.C. Blake at http://kasi-kcblake.blogspot.com