Page 66 of Soul So Dark

“No, Jordy,” Mr. Kelly replies with a hint of amusement, “to turn in corrected homework, you have to have completed it in the first place, and you haven’t turned in any of the weekly assignments since—” he squints at his screen, “January 12th.”

Jordy rolls her eyes with a huff, and then starts gazing around the classroom until her eyes fall on Macy Halbert, the sophomore sitting at the set of desks next to mine.

“Maybe I should take one of Macy’s spells she scribbles down in that book of hers and time travel back to January so I can care,” Jordy mutters with a sardonic smirk.

Macy looks up from her paper and purses her black cherry lips. As much as she tries to scowl, I can see her deflate and a flash of embarrassment behind her hazel eyes before she puts her head back down to hide behind her black and red-streaked hair.

In an instant, I’m back in that restroom the day I came back to school after Evie was murdered, trapped in that stall, listening to Jordy and her stupid friends. I cast a glare at the back of Jordy’s head and then, before I realize what’s happening, I hear my own voice fill the silence.

“I’m sure you’d have to get someone to read them to you.”

There’s an audible snicker, followed by another, and then another. Did I just say that out loud? I must have, because when I look up, Marshall Malone and Luke Wahler are cackling on the other side of the table from Jordy.

Jordy whips around. “Who the hell areyou,her goth girlfriend?” she snaps through slitted eyes.

“Settle down, Harrington,” Mr. Kelly barks.

I hold her seething eyes for another moment before turning back to my work. My hand trembles as I try to write down my first fun fact about myself, but I don’t know whether it’s because I’m so enraged by Jordy bullying Macy or that I just put a target on my own back.

Whatever. That was wholly uncalled for. What did Macy ever do to Jordy or anyone else?

When I look to my left, Tasha is concentrating a little too hard on tearing more pages out of her notebook, trying to avoid eye contact. But when I glance across the room, Landon is looking right at me. He smiles and lets out a silent laugh before going back to his work.

So, what are four secrets about myself? Everything truly interesting that comes to mind are things I would never tell any of these people. After staring off into space for a few minutes, I can’t help but smile when the first idea comes to me.

I made it through Sen’s Fortress in 10 minutes…

But my favorite game is Tomb Raider…

My brother’s best friend gave me an original PlayStation…

And now my only goal today is to make it to lunch so I can thank him for it.

???

Spoiler alert—I didn’t write any of that shit down for the group activity in Psychology. I scribbled down a few things about my dad’s ranch and my cosplay costume for GalactiCon last year; enough to satisfy the assignment but not be totally boring. By the time I get to the cafeteria, Alex is already sitting at his usual table with his back to me when I get in the snack line. I open my bag and surreptitiously shoot off a text to Alex while I’m waiting.

ME (12:06PM): How good are you at Vagrant Story?

“Tonight,” Austin appears at my shoulder, giving me a start.

“What?”

“Zero Reckoning.Tonight. 7:30.Forget the weekend, it’s still sold out. This is the only time I could get tickets before next week.”

When I hesitate, Austin furrows his brow. “You’re notbusy,are you?” he asks incredulously.

Sometimes I don’t know whether he’s joking or just oblivious.

“That depends,” I cast him a disinterested look, “are milkshakes involved?”

“I’ll take that as you’re free, so yeah, we’ll go through the drive-thru at Dairy Queen on the way.”

“What about the black lipstick?”

“Yeah, I’ll wear your lipstick, too…” Austin shifts his jaw like he’s trying not to laugh, but then snaps it shut again with a smile.

“What?” I ask, sliding the lid to the cooler open and fishing around until I find the sandwich I want.