the weird glow would top world history any day. Even Mr. Maguire hasn’t realized there is a white light in the center of the room, and he sees Lev as well as I do.
Without realizing it, I’m trembling. Just another way my life and this nightmare are alike. There are so many things that don’t make sense, and if my eyes hurt from this bright light surrounding Lev, why is everyone else so obtuse? I want to raise my hand, but I know better. If they did see it, they would be reacting. So am I hallucinating? Am I having a different kind of nightmare? None of it makes any sense.
So instead of dwelling on it, I force myself to listen to Mr. Maguire’s voice and jot my own notes, planning on talking to Lev later, even though I have a feeling that will get me nowhere.
Just before lunch, Lev finds me shoving my books in my locker. He grins at my method, and once the locker door slams shut, we both hear a few books tumble against it.
“That could be interesting,” he says, eyeing the door, “Especially when you open it again.”
“That’s after lunch,” I say, grabbing his hand. “Right now we’re at lunch. Though I do think someone else has lost his appetite.” I nod toward where Griffin stands at the cafeteria entry, glaring. “You ready to eat?”
“Yeah.”
“So why did you want me to stay away from him?” I smile, hoping this time I’ll get answers.
Griffin scowls and storms off, Gail trailing behind, trying to assuage his ego. Matt just grins and shakes his head, which neither of us quite understands, but then that’s Matt. Nobody understands Matt really. Not even Matt.
“Because he has a bad temper and thinks he owns whatever he wants. It’s a nasty combination.” His grip tightens, and he pulls me closer. “And he doesn’t own you.”
“You got that right,” I mutter, shaking my head as we walk into the cafeteria. I watch what is coming out of the lunch line. Pizza. No thanks, the spaghetti was bad enough.
“What do you want?” he asks, looking from the hot food line to the salad bar.
“The salad. It’s…safer.”
“Good point.” We both walk to the salad bar and pile a plate of veggies before picking one of the few uninhabited tables around the room. In the distance, I see Shelly and Bree already at their table. Shelly waves to me, inviting us over, but I point to the one we’ve chosen and mouth the words, “We’ll talk later.” She smiles and nods.
Lev immediately begins eating and I stare at him, the flawless profile and blunt line of his jaw. And then he looks up, his expression unsure.
“Okay, what’s up with the staring?”
I shrug. “What do you mean? I’m not staring.”
“Yeah, well, what’s going on in your devious mind?” He sets his fork down, obviously waiting for my response.
“Devious?”
“Yeah, now share.”
“You’re going to think I’m nuts.” I toy with my napkin. “Really, really nuts.”
“You’re assuming I don’t already think you’re crazy.” he chuckles. “That’s what I call blind optimism.” He waits for me to go on and looks up when I don’t. “And?”
“Have you ever met someone who’s really different?” I spear a bite of salad.
“Yeah, you.”
I laugh, realizing he has no clue what I’m getting at. “No, Lev, I mean really different. You see things about them you can’t explain.”
“Can’t say I have.” His smile dwindles to the guarded expression I’ve often seen, and he seems to focus on eating. I wait to see if he’ll ask for more, but he doesn’t.
“Lev, no matter how I try to ask any of this, it’s going to sound weird, so I might as well just throw it out there.”
“Maybe I don’t want to play catch.” His jaw tightens slightly and he picks up his milk to take a drink.
“Too bad. I’m tired of trying to pretend I’m not seeing what I’m seeing. Do you realize I’ve had dreams
Without realizing it, I’m trembling. Just another way my life and this nightmare are alike. There are so many things that don’t make sense, and if my eyes hurt from this bright light surrounding Lev, why is everyone else so obtuse? I want to raise my hand, but I know better. If they did see it, they would be reacting. So am I hallucinating? Am I having a different kind of nightmare? None of it makes any sense.
So instead of dwelling on it, I force myself to listen to Mr. Maguire’s voice and jot my own notes, planning on talking to Lev later, even though I have a feeling that will get me nowhere.
Just before lunch, Lev finds me shoving my books in my locker. He grins at my method, and once the locker door slams shut, we both hear a few books tumble against it.
“That could be interesting,” he says, eyeing the door, “Especially when you open it again.”
“That’s after lunch,” I say, grabbing his hand. “Right now we’re at lunch. Though I do think someone else has lost his appetite.” I nod toward where Griffin stands at the cafeteria entry, glaring. “You ready to eat?”
“Yeah.”
“So why did you want me to stay away from him?” I smile, hoping this time I’ll get answers.
Griffin scowls and storms off, Gail trailing behind, trying to assuage his ego. Matt just grins and shakes his head, which neither of us quite understands, but then that’s Matt. Nobody understands Matt really. Not even Matt.
“Because he has a bad temper and thinks he owns whatever he wants. It’s a nasty combination.” His grip tightens, and he pulls me closer. “And he doesn’t own you.”
“You got that right,” I mutter, shaking my head as we walk into the cafeteria. I watch what is coming out of the lunch line. Pizza. No thanks, the spaghetti was bad enough.
“What do you want?” he asks, looking from the hot food line to the salad bar.
“The salad. It’s…safer.”
“Good point.” We both walk to the salad bar and pile a plate of veggies before picking one of the few uninhabited tables around the room. In the distance, I see Shelly and Bree already at their table. Shelly waves to me, inviting us over, but I point to the one we’ve chosen and mouth the words, “We’ll talk later.” She smiles and nods.
Lev immediately begins eating and I stare at him, the flawless profile and blunt line of his jaw. And then he looks up, his expression unsure.
“Okay, what’s up with the staring?”
I shrug. “What do you mean? I’m not staring.”
“Yeah, well, what’s going on in your devious mind?” He sets his fork down, obviously waiting for my response.
“Devious?”
“Yeah, now share.”
“You’re going to think I’m nuts.” I toy with my napkin. “Really, really nuts.”
“You’re assuming I don’t already think you’re crazy.” he chuckles. “That’s what I call blind optimism.” He waits for me to go on and looks up when I don’t. “And?”
“Have you ever met someone who’s really different?” I spear a bite of salad.
“Yeah, you.”
I laugh, realizing he has no clue what I’m getting at. “No, Lev, I mean really different. You see things about them you can’t explain.”
“Can’t say I have.” His smile dwindles to the guarded expression I’ve often seen, and he seems to focus on eating. I wait to see if he’ll ask for more, but he doesn’t.
“Lev, no matter how I try to ask any of this, it’s going to sound weird, so I might as well just throw it out there.”
“Maybe I don’t want to play catch.” His jaw tightens slightly and he picks up his milk to take a drink.
“Too bad. I’m tired of trying to pretend I’m not seeing what I’m seeing. Do you realize I’ve had dreams
Similar Books
