Brigid Kemmerer - Spark

He doesn’t want me to associate with you.

Like that was a surprise. But Ms. Anderson was looking at the class now instead of writing on the board, and he had to wait before he could write back.

What do you want?

Layne’s expression sobered when she unfolded his note. Then she wrote quickly.

I want to understand how you can do what

you did.

He stared at those words for a long time and wondered how much she knew. How much she’d figured out. She was staring at him now; he could feel it.

Finally, he nodded, then put his pen against the paper.

Free period? Library?

She didn’t write back to that one, just unrolled it and nodded, then looked back at her work.

He’d caught up with the homework, but Gabriel couldn’t understand a word Ms. Anderson was saying. He kept sneaking glances at Layne, fighting to keep his hands still, wanting to reach out and stroke her hair, to touch her arm, to hold her hand and feel her steady presence balance him out.

Then the bell was ringing and Layne was gathering her things.

“See you,” she whispered. Her hand barely brushed his as she pushed past his desk.

“See you,” he said, gathering his things to walk out of the classroom.

But Ms. Anderson stepped in front of him. “I’m pleased to see your work has improved.”

“I have a tutor,” he said. When her eyebrows went up, he shrugged and said, “I wanted to get back on the team.”

Funny how basketball seemed so pointless now.

“Well,” said Ms. Anderson, “I hope this means you’ll do well on the makeup exam this afternoon.”

“Wait, that’s—”

“We agreed on today. You are free fifth period, correct?”

Christ, like he would have remembered a math test with everything going on. This lady couldn’t cut him some slack? He glanced at the doorway, but Layne was long gone. He wouldn’t even have a way to get a message to her. “I . . . look, I need to—”

“I want to give you more time,” she said gently. “I know you’re not focused today.”

He breathed out a sigh. “Yes. More time would be great.”

“I can’t. I’m already giving you a free pass by letting you make up the test.”

His hands balled into fists at his sides. “I don’t give a crap about the team anymore.”

“Do you care about graduating? Because right now you have a zero in the system. And with Friday’s events, the principal asked me about it. I said you were scheduled to take a makeup exam today.”

Gabriel wanted to hit something.

“Look,” she said. “Just take the test. I’ve seen your work over the last few days. You’ll do fine. And I can help you recover from a low score. I can’t help you recover from no score.”

“I can’t,” he said. “I need to be somewhere.”

“Where?”

Somehow he didn’t think I need to meet a girl would suffice here.

Her expression hardened. “I’m telling you that you will fail this class. You will not graduate. I know this might not matter to you right this instant, but I assure you, it will matter in the long run.”

He snorted. The long run. Considering Bill Chandler’s comments Saturday morning, he didn’t even know if he had any chance of being around for the long run.

But then he realized he did have one last option.

Layne’s voice was echoing in his head, the way she’d chastised him for cheating.

He shook it off. “Fifth period,” he said. “Fine. I’ll be here.”

Now he just needed to find Nick.

Layne sat in the back corner of the library, blocked by the stacks, yet with a crooked view of the entrance. The same table where she always sat. The same table where she’d stood up to Gabriel, two weeks ago. It felt like a lifetime ago.

The library wasn’t crowded, but no one ever sat back here because the books were old and smelled musty. They must have cleaned the carpets over the weekend, because today it also smelled sweet yet acrid, a chemical scent that was giving her a headache.

Her palms were sweating, and she swiped them on her jeans, again reveling in the realization that there were no scars under the denim along her left thigh.

That was the only thing she’d left out of her confession to her father.

She just wasn’t sure what to say. She was used to dealing with facts and numbers. Her father was used to dealing with truths and untruths. Neither had any experience dealing with the supernatural.

Because it had to be, right?

This morning, in math class, Gabriel had reminded her of the way he’d been that first morning on the trail, when she’d compared him to a land mine. Only this time it was more like a hand grenade after the pin had been pulled. It was just a matter of time before he went off.

“It’s like every time I see you, you’re sitting all by yourself.”

Layne jerked and almost fell out of her chair. Ryan Stacey was behind her, leaning against the bookcase. He must have come around the side of the stacks.

“I didn’t expect to find you here,” he said. “But I like it. You will, too, I think.”

Now her palms were sweating for an entirely new reason. “Go away. You’re lucky I’m not having you arrested for assault.”

“You kissed me, too, sweetheart.”

“Don’t call me that.” She threw a glance at the doorway and prayed for Gabriel to appear.

He didn’t.

“Besides,” she said, making her voice hard even though her insides felt like jelly, “I’m not the only one you’ve assaulted.”

“Yeah, like your baby brother is going to earn any friends by being a retard and a tattletale.”

“Simon is not a retard.”

“Whatever. I took care of him.” He took a step toward her, and she scrambled out of the chair before she could stop herself. Her back hit a bookcase, and the metal shelves dug into her shoulders.

A smile lit his face, but not in a good way. “Too bad about the fire at the horse barn. Did that satisfy your little burn fetish? Add a new scar or two?”

She flinched, but then he looked at her crookedly. “Or is it Merrick who has the burn fetish? I guess you freaks all have to stay together—”

“Leave her alone.”

Layne was choking on her breath, on her heartbeat, fear warring with relief. Gabriel was here, looking as fierce as ever. He’d protect her.

She just didn’t want him to do it at his own expense.

She moved close to him, letting her hand close over his forearm like she had in class. “Don’t fight,” she said. “Let him say what he wants. It’s not worth it—”

Gabriel glanced down at her hand, as if surprised to find it there. “I won’t fight him.” Then he made a face. “What is that smell?”

“Don’t you know?” said Ryan. “I mean, they’re going to find a bottle of it in your locker.”

The forearm under her hand turned to steel, but Gabriel was absolutely still. “What are you talking about?”

Layne realized what Ryan had said. “You knew about the fire at the farm. You knew I was there.”

“Of course I did. You told me where to find you.” His eyes flicked to Gabriel. “Of course, I didn’t realize you were riding more than just horses.”

“Shut up!” she snapped, feeling tears grab at her throat.

“It was supposed to be a hay bale. I was just screwing with you,” said Ryan. “I didn’t realize the whole place would go up like that. When the cops found me in the woods, I had to say I was out running and saw who started it.” A wicked smile at Gabriel. “Too bad for you it happened in the middle of an arson spree.”