Chapter 4

Arianna, her brother, and the other boy (who happens to be her cousin, which explains the red hair) were the last ones off the bus, just like me.

“Who’s your homeroom teacher?” I asked.

“Miss Griswald,” she said. “I don’t think we’re in the same one.”

I shook my head. “No, we’re not.”

“I saw you in math, though.”

Am I that noticeable or was she looking for me?

“See you ’round,” she said, interrupting my musings.

“Mmm, okay,” I grunt.

I didn’t see her again until math, but due to the assigned seating, we couldn’t talk. That was fine with me. When math was done, I hurried to my locker to grab the lunch that Kara had made for me.

I was so intent on observing the people around me that I didn’t catch the one right in front of me.

“Watch it,” the boy growled, shoving past me.

I took him in a quick glance--ripped jeans, maroon hoodie, and Nike high-top sneakers. If you were to see him, you probably wouldn’t do a double take (unless you were a girl, because he was kinda a looker.) But then again, you probably aren’t an anomaly with heightened senses. Of all the telepathic/enhanced abilities one could have, I have one of the worsts--heightened sense of smell. (Yeah, I tend to avoid public restrooms due to that one.)

Anyway...He was gone down the hall, and I kept walking to my locker. I’d just reached it when the vision came on.

Oh, yeah, I should explain that one, too. I’m a Forerunner--my subconscious is so developed, it picks up little things around me, piecing it together to form an almost exact vision of the future. It’s never been anything big, just little things moments before they happen.

Feeling nauseous when it was over--which is pretty normal--I leaned against my locker. I drew in several shaky breaths, inwardly grimacing at the curious glances and whispers around me.

That boy is gonna be in some serious trouble, I thought, slamming my locker shut a little too hard.

“Hey, Dani!” It was Arianna. I gotta say, that girl had some awful timing.

I had a split-second to make a decision. I didn’t hesitate as I turned my back and hurried after the boy.

“Dani!” I knew without looking that heads had turned in her direction, but no one really knew who I was.

Moving through the crowd virtually unhindered, I headed towards a deserted hallway. It was the same one I’d seen in a my vision, and, sure enough, the boy was there. Another kid, maybe thirteen at the oldest, met him.

I ducked out of sight as they looked around quickly before quickly exchanging money and a small ziploc bag containing the drugs I'd smelled. I risked taking a peek, and saw the younger boy take off.

Having seen all that I needed to see, I took off back the way I’d come. I stopped close the cafeteria and waited. Ten minutes later, I heard footsteps. Knowing this was the boy, I walked towards the bend in the hallway.

I ran into him for the second time that day.

“I’m so sorry,” I stammered out an apology.

“Watch it, nerd,” he snapped, shoving past me.

I kept walking until I reached my locker. I made sure the hallway was empty before taking out the Ziploc baggy I’d just lifted from his hip pocket. Who knew why he hadn’t put it some place more secure, but it wasn’t like I was going to go ask him.

Shoving the little bag into my smelly gym clothes (which I’d forgotten to take home and get washed), I whispered, “You can thank me later, buddy.”

If ART wanted me here for the drug deals...I had a good head start. Of course, since no one, not even Kara, knew what I was here for, I’d probably have to do some digging.

Good thing I know how to hack...

"Where were you?" Arianna demanded as we headed to our next class after lunch.

"Sorry, I had to deal with something." And, just as I'd been taught, I looked her in the eyes.

Free tip--when you're lying, always always look the person you're lying to in the eye.

Those brilliant green eyes held my own for several heartbeats before she looked away. "Sorry, it's none of my business."

"Nah, that's okay." I smiled.

"Ax!"she called out.

"Ari, I'm right here," her brother said from behind her.

"Oh." Arianna reddened. "Didn't see you there."

Ax (which is short for the hideous name of Axton) checked his watch. "Look, I gotta run. I have to meet up with one of my buddies before my next class."

"Okay, but I need my pen back." She held her hand out, and Ax returned the pen before running of.

Because I was watching Ax jog off down the hall, I didn't catch what Arianna was saying. Well, until she snapped her fingers in my face.

"Yo, earth to Dani! You seriously zoned out on my brother?!" Thankfully, she was whispering, so the entire school didn't hear it. "Do you think he's cute?"

"He's seems nice," I said vaguely.

Although I had initially just given him a lingering glance as he made his exit, that wasn't the reason he had maintained my interest. I couldn't be sure, I was pretty sure I'd seen a guy wearing a maroon hoody, ripped jeans, and hightop sneakers waiting at the end of the hallway.

Maybe not for Ax, and if he was, maybe not even for drugs.

But I couldn't be sure.

"Uh huh," she rolled her eyes. "Just nice? Nothing else?"

I grinned. "No, not my type anyway."

"Oh, please." Cue another eye roll.

I just ignored her.