Bounders Read Online Free Page B

meaty boy’s face grows until it floats in space like the Cheshire Cat’s. “Yes, it was. It was really funny. We’re all here to have fun, right?”
    That seems to confuse the freckly kid. “Uh, sure.”
    Another guy I didn’t notice at first steps up. He has an unbelievably relaxed posture, like you could pummel him with a dozen apple pies and he’d just shrug them off. He stares down at the freckly kid. “Why’d you call him that?”
    â€œWhat?” the freckly kid asks.
    â€œB-wad.” The guy has dark hair and brown skin and is almost a head taller than the rest of us. “You know what it means, don’t you? What the B stands for?”
    â€œSure, but, you know, everyone says it.”
    â€œDo you do everything everyone else does?” the tall guy asks. “Last time I checked, every kid on this craft is one of the B s in B-wad. So figure out a better way to swear, okay? Let’s start treating ourselves with a little more respect. And have some fun, like the guy says.”
    The freckly kid looks at me. I shrug. He shoves his foot into his shoe and walks up the aisle.
    The tall guy turns to the meaty boy. “Hey, Regis. Go back where you came from.”
    I brace for Regis to flip out or maybe even throw something, but he doesn’t. His shoulders roll forward, and he mumbles, “Whatever,” before heading to the front of the craft.
    The tall guy offers his hand to me. “Sorry about your head, dude. The name’s Marco. Marco Romero. I’m from Amazonas.”
    I shake his hand. “I’m Jasper. Americana East. And this is Cole.”
    Marco extends his hand to Cole, but Cole doesn’t take it.
    â€œWe’re not here to have fun,” Cole says. “We’re here for an important Earth Force assignment.”
    Marco laughs. “Yeah, whatever you say, Buzz Kill. Later.” He turns and disappears into an aisle a few rows up.
    I plop onto my chair. “Why didn’t you shake his hand?”
    â€œI don’t like him,” Cole says. “You didn’t see what happened. He was with that guy Regis. They stole the kid’s shoe, played catch across the craft, and then nailed you in the head with it.”
    â€œOh.” Marco seemed okay to me, although the whole scene was a little odd. If Addy were around, she’d remind me I stink at reading people.

    The engines jump to life, sending vibrations through the craft. Cole’s face brightens. I’m sure mine does, too. In a matter of minutes we’ll be airborne. Destination: space station.
    â€œMay I have your attention, puh- leeeze ,” Florine Statton says, dragging the word please out so long, she sounds like she’s in pain. She stands at the top of the aisle, still wearing her giant sunglasses even though there’s nothing sunny about the passenger craft. “The captain has informed me the atmospheric push is rough. You need to fasten your harnesses.”
    A chorus of clicks runs through the rows.
    â€œOnce we engage Faster Than Light Speed, or FTL, we’ll shift into autopilot,” she continues. “Then you can move about if you choose. We’ll arrive at the space station in a few hours.”
    Cole and I flip around in our seats to see the final gear check. As I watch the flight crew communicate through hand signals, I inhale a huge whiff of . . . roses? A long pink nail taps me on the forearm.
    Florine stares down at me through her sunglasses. “Ex- cuuuse me. I said it was time to fasten your harness.” I’m doused with another wave of her rose perfume as she flashes her bright cold smile. Honestly, I’ve never seen anyone with whiter teeth. They’re even whiter in person than they are on the webs.
    â€œSorry,” I say. Cole and I snap into our five-point harnesses. Florine moves down the aisle, checking the other Bounders.
    â€œWhat’s her deal?” I whisper