Sela grins and waves at someone behind me. “Hey, over here!”
Oh God, he’s here. I turn again, expecting to see Trevor, but instead I find Jess and Miranda heading toward us. Just great.
“Hey, girlie,” Miranda says. She shimmies onto the bench next to Sela.
Jess gives me a thin smile as she sits with me. “Where’s Trevor?”
My grip tightens around my cup as I my eyes flick to Sela. “You told them?”
She shrugs. “Everyone will know soon enough.”
“But it’s just a study thing. He didn’t ask me out on a date.”
“He hasn’t yet.”
I take a long sip of my drink to keep from snapping at her.
Miranda’s nose wrinkles as she watches me. “I hate to think about how many calories are in there.”
Jess nods. “Uh huh. Those things are so fattening.”
I hate the way the Brainless Twins stare at me with those smug expressions and wonder for a moment how good it would feel to throw my fattening frappé in their faces. No more smug looks, that’s for sure. But I don’t do anything except take a big bite of my fattening chocolate chunk cookie.
Then I proceed to almost choke when Sela lets out a squeal. “Ooh, he’s here!”
Reluctantly, I look out the store’s window. Sure enough, it’s Trevor. He parks his truck and jumps out, pausing to smooth his hair while studying his reflection in the side mirror.
“Awww, look at that. He’s primping for you,” Sela says. The Brainless Twins twitter.
I give Sela a withering glare. “Knock it off.”
“Okay, no jokes.” She grabs her drink. “All right, girls, let’s clear out so Alora can work her magic on loverboy.”
Jess snorts while Miranda shakes her head. I know what Miranda’s thinking and I agree with her—there will be no magic-making from me. Hopefully I’ll get out of here without becoming Willow Creek’s biggest idiot.
The girls head to an unoccupied table near the exit. Even though I despise Jess and Miranda, I’d give anything to be with them now.
I grab my history book and flip to the chapter I need to study. I try to read over the first paragraph. Nothing sticks. All I want to do is watch the door, but I don’t want Trevor to think I’ve been looking forward to seeing him. That’s pathetic.
I’m so engrossed in pretending to study that I jump when Trevor says, “Hey, there you are.” He places his hand on my shoulder. “Easy there. Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I search for something brilliant to say, but my tongue feels heavy.
He slides his history book on the table across from me. “I’m gonna get something to drink. You want anything else?”
“No, thanks, I’m good.”
After he leaves, I try to appear relaxed. I cross and uncross my legs and rub my palms against my jeans. The noise level has gone up since I got here. The place is packed. And even worse, some of the kids from school must have noticed Trevor talking to me. They keep glancing in my direction like they’ve witnessed a supernatural occurrence. Sela catches my attention and gives me two thumbs up.
Somebody please kill me now.
“I’m set,” Trevor says as he sits across from me. Then he slides a small bag across the table. “I figured you might want another one of these. I know how much you like them.”
I open the bag and inhale the scent of another warm chocolate chunk cookie. I glance up at Trevor. “Um, thanks. But you really didn’t have to do that,” I say, feeling my face get hot.
Trevor smiles. “It’s no big deal. I’m just trying to be nice, that’s all.”
“Well, thanks again.” I take another sip of my frappé, but I can barely swallow it. I push the container away. “Before we get started, I wanted to thank you for offering to help me. I really need to pass this test.”
“No problem.” He glances around before leaning closer. “You know, I’ve wanted to ask you out for a long time.”
Talk about direct. That’s the last thing I expected to hear. “I can’t believe that. You’ve been with Naomi for ages.” And your mom hates my aunt.
He leans back, scowling. “Yeah, that’s two years of my life I’ll never get back. I wish I could forget.”
“Really? I thought you two were pretty tight.”
“With Naomi, everything is about appearances. It gets old.”
“I kind of got that impression too.” Especially since she’s besties with Kate.
He bites a chunk off his donut and chases it with coffee. “It’s time for me to move on. I’ve got better things to look forward to.”
He holds my gaze for a moment. With his smile turned up to killer levels and all attention focused on me, it’s kind of easy to see how girls might fall for him. Wait, what am I thinking? I tap a finger on my book. “So, are you ready to study?”
“Absolutely,” he says, taking out his own history book. He opens it, extracts a few pages full of notes, and offers them to me. “And I came prepared.”
I glance over the notes, taking in the neat handwriting of the detailed outline he made of the chapter. I peer at him over the pages, starting to feel guilty. He put a lot of work into this. Maybe I was wrong to be so harsh with my judgment of him.
He starts to speak again, but his face darkens as his eyes shift to something behind me. I get a sinking feeling as I turn around.
Naomi is standing at the door with Kate. They’re both wearing tennis skirts and tank tops. Naomi’s ash-brown hair falls in a braid over one shoulder, while Kate’s hair is pulled up in a ponytail. Both have zeroed in on Trevor and me.
They march across the room and stop at our booth. Kate’s lip curls in a sneer. “What are you doing with her?”
If I thought my face was burning before, it’s on fire now, but I don’t say anything. Naomi stares at me like she would choke me if she could get away with it.
“I don’t remember inviting you here,” Trevor says.
“I didn’t realize I had to have your permission. This was our favorite place to go after school,” Naomi says, turning her attention to him. “I figured you’d try to flaunt some new whore in my face, but I didn’t think you’d start with trash.”
“What?” I ask, hating how my voice squeaks.
Naomi places a hand on Kate’s arm. “Oh, I’m so sorry. Aren’t y’all related?”
“Hell no,” Kate says. “She’s from Grace’s side of the family. No shared blood, thank the lord.”
“Outside. Now,” he says to Naomi through gritted teeth. Then he says to me, “I’ll handle this. Don’t go anywhere.”
He takes Naomi by the arm and leads her away. She tries to protest, but it sounds feeble. Kate smirks and follows them. Just as they get outside, Naomi flashes a triumphant smile over her shoulder.
I close my eyes, wishing I could disappear. But it wouldn’t solve anything. I’d still have to deal with this mess.
“What was that all about?”
Sela is standing next to me. At least the Brainless Twins didn’t come over, too.
“Apparently Naomi didn’t know Trevor was going to help me study today and she’s not happy.”
“So she wants to start some shit with you?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know. I guess I can’t blame her. Trevor said he’s the one who broke up with her. I guess she’s not over him.”
“Girl, don’t make excuses for that beyotch. She seriously needs to have her butt kicked.”
I blink a few times. “Really? And who’s going to do that?”
“You should. My mama says if you let someone run over you, they’ll think they own you.”
I want to tell Sela that she’s being ridiculous, but I know she’s right.
“I’m going to see what’s happening out there.” I grab my things and slide off the seat.
“Want some backup?” Sela asks.
I shake my head in alarm. “No. I’ve got to do this myself, okay?”
“Gotcha, but if those two jump yo
u, I’m all over them.”
She rejoins Jess and Miranda at their table, no doubt filling them in on my unwanted drama. It seems like everyone’s eyes are on me as I head outside. My feet drag as if they know I’m heading into disaster.
I blink a few times at the bright sun and search for Trevor and Naomi. Kate is chatting with two girls at one of the outdoor tables. She calls out, “Where you going, Alora?” in a mocking voice. The other two girls laugh along with her.
I ignore them and keep looking for Trevor and Naomi. They’re next to Trevor’s truck. I had expected to find them arguing, but they’re standing close, talking quietly. This can’t be good.
I’m halfway across the parking lot when Naomi’s voice rises. It almost sounds like she’s pleading. Then she says, “Please, don’t.”
I stop a few cars away and crouch next to a gray sedan. I feel like an idiot, but I need to hear what they’re talking about. Naomi says something else, but it’s too muffled for me to understand.
Then I hear Trevor say, “It’s a joke.”
In that moment, a mixture of emotions rolls through me. How stupid am I for believing Trevor wanted to help me? I mean, why would he? He’s a player and he tried to play me. I’m so pissed that I fell for it.
Sela and the Brainless Twins are probably glued to the window. I should go back and tell her what I heard, but I can’t face them.
Before I can stop myself I sneak out of the parking lot. The inn is about three miles from here, so I can walk. By the time Sela realizes I’ve left, I’ll be halfway home. She might get mad at me for leaving without telling her, but she’ll understand when I explain why.
I’ve gone a block down Main Street when my eyes glaze with tears. I rub them away and blink back the rest. I won’t cry over some stupid jerk. He doesn’t deserve my tears.
I round a corner and glance back over my shoulder. A gray car is behind me, driving slowly. Unease creeps up me, and I walk faster.
A few moments later, the car pulls up next to me and the driver rolls the window down. “Hello, Alora.”
Adrenaline floods my body and I almost take off running, but I finally recognize the man. “Hey, Mr. Palmer,” I say, allowing myself to relax. “I didn’t realize you drove that car.”
He smiles and pushes his glasses back up. “Yes, it’s nothing fancy, but it gets me to where I need to go.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Are you heading back to the inn? I could give you a ride,” he says, patting the seat next to his camera. “I promise I won’t bite.”
I try not to take a step back, but that’s exactly what I want to do. He might be a guest, but I’m not about to accept a ride from him. “No, thanks. I need the exercise.”
His jaw flexes like he’s chewing on what to say next. “Suit yourself. I’ll see you soon.”
My body is already covered in chills from the Trevor fiasco, but as Mr. Palmer drives away, they sink into my core, freezing me. All I can think about is his car as I clutch my history book against my chest. It’s the same gray car I hid next to back at the Java Jive parking lot.
Is he following me?
Or am I just being paranoid? Lots of people go to Java Jive. Even if Mr. Palmer was there, this route is the quickest way to get back to the inn. I’m just being ridiculous.
I guess that’s what I get for letting Trevor mess with my head.
13
BRIDGER
MARCH 17, 2146
The sun is barely peeking over the skyscrapers when I leave Mom’s apartment. The brightness blinds me for a moment. I rub my temples, trying to ease the pressure. I didn’t take any pain meds or Calmer. It’ll take a clear head for what I’m about to do.
I grip my portacase strap as I thread through the crowd. Everyone is too noisy as they make their way to wherever they’re going. Nulls silently pick up trash and clean storefront windows. Again I can’t help but think that could be me if I’m caught.
I left early in case Mom changed her mind about me going camping with Zed and Elijah. She grew a heart last night and agreed to let me get away for a few days. I guess I looked like hell after Vika’s memorial ceremony yesterday.
I almost feel bad for lying to her.
We’re meeting at Elijah’s house. From there we’re supposed to take Elijah’s family hover bikes to camp in the Rockies, like we usually do every few months. Zed and Elijah really are going up there. They’re taking my DataLink in case Mom decides to track me.
I’m catching a hypersonic plane to Georgia. Hopefully I’ll be back sometime tonight. Or at least in a few days.
The crowd parts long enough for me to glimpse a flash of blonde hair. Just like Vika’s. I almost call out her name. Instead I close my eyes for a few seconds. That wasn’t Vika. Just like it wasn’t her at the memorial ceremony. Even though I was late, everyone else viewed her body before it was taken away for cremation. One of the possible side effects of taking too much Calmer is hallucinations. I know I’ve taken too much this past week.
After riding the maglev across town, I exit and walk the few blocks to Elijah’s place. I’ve been this way countless times before, and yet I still stare in awe at the houses. They’re all huge and sit on large landscaped lots. Like Dad used to say, you can’t hide money. And Elijah’s family definitely has it. His great-grandmother helped develop Chronobands.
A maid answers the door and informs me that Elijah and Zed are waiting for me in the game room, which is where we usually hang out. I have to pass several more rooms to get there. Each one is full of the latest tech gadgets or priceless historical artifacts.
I find Elijah sitting on one end of a dark blue, U-shaped couch. He’s watching a vid on the giant TeleNet. Zed is sitting opposite him, wearing a pair of Sim Game glasses.
“Man, you sure you want to do this?” Elijah asks.
“Yes, I’ve got to,” I say, leaning against the side of the antique pool table.
“But have you really thought this through?”
Zed slips off the glasses. “And what are we supposed to do if your mom comms you?”
“I don’t know,” I snap. Yesterday they were all supportive. They said I needed to find out the truth. I snatch off my DataLink and toss it to Zed. “Don’t answer it. She’ll probably comm one of you, so tell her mine is messed up or something.”
Elijah frowns. “Do you think she’ll buy that? This is your mother we’re talking about.”
I try not to roll my eyes. “I get what you’re saying, but it’s not like we’re doing something unusual. We go camping all the time.”
“Except you’re not really going,” Elijah mutters. He walks over to me and slips a new DataLink out of his pocket. “Here’s the replacement. You owe me three hundred credits.”
“Thanks,” I say as I put it on. “Look, I’ve got to go. My flight leaves in less than an hour.”
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this, man.” Elijah places a hand on my shoulder. “Are you really sure you want to do this?”
“You sound like my mom,” I say.
“Damn, Bridger. That’s a cut,” Zed says with a smirk. He stands and stretches.
Elijah looks from me to Zed and laughs. “For real.”
“You guys, nothing bad will happen. Mom thinks I’m with you. I’ll zip over to Georgia, shift back long enough to see if Dad’s there, and be back before you know it.”
“Yeah, you might be able to do that if you have a Chronoband,” Elijah says. He glares at me, his jaw tightening.
He’s right, but nobody has access to Chronobands unless you go through the Academy or the DTA. No exceptions.
As I reassure Zed and Elijah again, I ignore the small voice inside me telling me I’m lying. With free shifting, nothing is certain. It’s something I’d never consider using under normal circumstances. But now it’s the only option I have.
“Come on,” I say, heading toward the door. “We have to leave together if this is going to work.”
“Right,” Zed says.
“Grams on the loose?” Zed asks Elijah.
Elijah starts to answer, but then footsteps thud behind us. We look back to find a woman running down the stairs. She appears to be middle aged, but I know better. The woman is Elijah’s great-grandmother, the Chronoband pioneer.
She’s also a clone.
My pulse thrums, seeing her like this.
After so many clones went crazy, most of them were forcibly institutionalized by the government. Those with enough money could afford to be taken care of at home.
“Somebody help me!” she screeches. “They’re trying to kill me!”
Two more people are behind her—a young nurse and another woman. It’s Elijah’s grandmother. She looks older than her own mother. Talk about messed up.
Elijah’s grandmother calls out, “Mom, please wait. Nobody is trying to hurt you.”
Elijah heaves a deep sigh. “Just a minute, guys.”
I feel helpless as Elijah goes back and waits at the bottom of the stairs. His great-grandmother stops running, her neck swiveling back and forth between Elijah and the women behind her. “Leave me alone! Just leave me alone!” Then she starts screaming.
The women finally reach her. Elijah’s grandmother murmurs something soothing. The nurse extracts a tiny syringe from her pocket and stabs his great-grandmother in the neck. Within seconds, the screams stop. Elijah hurries up the stairs to hug his grandmother and kiss the other one on the cheek. She just stares blankly in the space ahead of her.
After they lead her back upstairs, Elijah rejoins us. “Sorry about that. You know how it is when Grandma and Grams visit.”
Less than two hours later, I exit the hypersonic plane in Athens, Georgia. Like the New Denver terminal, it’s crowded. The only difference is there are way more Purists here. It’s not always easy to identify Purists, but the ones in here stand out like a Jumbotron flashing in the night sky. Obviously overweight, showing signs of premature aging or poor health, they’ve steadily refused the benefits of genetic modification. And they always reek of too much sweat. Bunch of idiots.
The Edge of Forever Page 9