At First Touch by Mattie Dunman

rang for dismissal. I jumped up from my desk and made a beeline for the door, so eager was I to make my first attempt at a social life. Preston stood blocking my way.
    When I had first gotten to class I had noticed him staring at me, but like I do with most unpleasant things, I blocked him out and focused on something else. Now there was no way I could ignore him, and based on his determined expression, he wasn’t about to give me the option.
    “Liz, can I talk to you for a sec?” His voice was forceful and his stance aggressive. I was so not in the mood.
    “Not right now. I’ve got to go meet someone,” I replied, trying to move past him. He grabbed my arm hard and pulled me forcibly out into the hall, pushing me up against the wall. My heart beat faster and I cast my eyes around for aid. Students raced on by without giving us more than a passing glance. Never get in a teenager’s way when the bell rings on a Friday afternoon.
    “Who are you meeting? Carey?” he sneered. His face was dangerously close to mine and I hoped I wouldn’t be forced to break his arm. That would really ruin my plans for remaining inconspicuous.
    “None of your damn business. Get the hell out of my way.” I kept my voice level and firm, maintaining eye contact to show him I wasn’t afraid of him. I didn’t know what his malfunction was, but he was clearly unbalanced.
    “Just hang on. I want to talk to you,” he said in an affronted tone, his eyebrows raised innocently, as though he weren’t grasping my arm in an iron grip and pressing me against the wall in a manner far too intimate.
    “Well, I don’t want to talk to you,” I growled.  He flinched. “Look, Preston, I don’t know what your deal is, but I don’t respond to intimidation, so you can drop this act right now. If you want to talk to me like a normal, not completely wacko person, make a damn appointment.”
    With that, I grabbed the offending wrist and applied pressure to a particular button below the thumb and twisted his arm around completely, forcing him to release me and gasp in pain.
    “Have I made myself clear?” I asked amiably.
     “Yeah, yeah, dammit, just let my frigging arm go!” I dropped it before he could call attention to us. He cradled his wrist against his chest and gave me a look of pure loathing.
    “You’ll pay for this, bitch,” he spat venomously.
    “Oh yeah, like I haven’t heard that before,” I said carelessly and turned my back on him, heading for the entrance where V.J. would be waiting for me.  I dismissed Preston out of hand. With foes like the Coalition and the Feds on my tail, an egotistical teenage boy just didn’t seem to be that big of a threat.
    Shows what can happen when you become short-sighted.
     

Chapter 6
    “Hey! Are you ready?” V.J.’s brightly cheerful voice pulled me out of my dark mood. She was waiting by the entrance, an expectant and excited expression lighting her features.
    “Yeah.  Are you sure you don’t mind swinging by home? I want to let my dad know what’s up.”
    “Sure! I’d like to meet him.” We grinned at each other and I hoped Dad wouldn’t chew me out too badly. I’d never actually brought a friend home before.
    We walked through the parking lot, talking easily, as though we were old friends. She stopped in front of a car and I raised my eyebrows. It was a brand new Audi, a little out of place in a student lot full of hand-me down trucks and clunkers.
    “Nice,” I said. She shrugged, a little embarrassed.
    “My father is the wealthiest man in three counties. He has a controlling share in the state’s biggest coal company.” She shrugged again, as though being the richest girl for a hundred miles was no big deal.
    I studied her for a moment and decided it wasn’t a big deal. I should understand better than most how it felt to be looked at differently for something you couldn’t help. Being loaded in a town like Pound would put a target on your back, both for enemies and