Branded (The Branded Series) Read Online Free Page A

certain face-off. I
quickly cut in. “So, where you from?”
    Noah appeared
at my side. “And I’m Noah Morgan,” he said with newfound enthusiasm.
    Rachel gave
one last smile to Anna then turned her big brown eyes to Noah and me. “I’m from
California, actually. We just moved here so I haven’t met anyone yet. I was hoping
maybe you could introduce me to some people?” She tilted her head to the side
and puckered her lower lip. Anna’s fingernails dug deep into my arm and I
fought hard not to react.
    “Noah can help
you,” Anna said confidently. “We’re going to be late for class, Jake. Let’s
go.” She pulled my arm as she led me away. “Maybe we’ll see you around later, Rachel.”
    Rachel looked
surprised and pleased at the same time, and Noah was definitely content to be
left alone with the new girl.
    “You okay?” I
asked when we were in the clear.
    “Perfectly
fine,” she lied.
    I tried to act
indifferent, but Anna’s new display of jealousy was flattering. I liked it.

Chapter 3
     
    Anna dug out her class
schedule and studied it. “It’s so weird coming back to school,” she
said. “I feel like a new kid. What classes do we have together again?”
    I pointed to
her schedule. “Homeroom, biology and science.”
    “Oh yes, I
remember now.” She slid her schedule back into her pocket. “So how has Mr.
Meade been to you?”
    “You mean, Mr. Mean ?”
    Anna giggled.
“He’s not that bad, Jake.”
    “To you,
maybe.”
    “Has he sent
you to the office yet this year?”
    “Twice. Once
for being late and once for interrupting him while he was talking.” I shook my
head.
    “Well, I guess
it’s a good thing you only have him for homeroom and math,” she comforted.
    “Sure.” I pushed
open the door to homeroom and let Anna walk in first.
    Mr. Meade
instantly snapped his head up from his desk, as if sensing my approach. “Mr.
Rovert!” he bellowed. “What a delight.”
    I forced my
best smile and found my way to my desk at the back next to Anna’s.
    “I don’t think
so, Mr. Rovert. I’ve reserved this seat up here for you.” He patted the desk at
the head of the row, directly in front of his.
    “Is that
really necessary?” I asked, feeling my defences rising.
    “Better to be
safe than sorry, don’t you think? With Miss Taylor back, I need your full attention.”
He winked and slapped the desk again. “Sit, boy!”
    My fingernails
dug deep into my palms as the skin on my knuckles whitened. I fought the urge
to tell him off. Not today. Not today.
    Anna leaned in
and whispered, “Relax and sit down.” Her voice was like a key that immediately
unlocked the tension in my body. I slowly walked up to the desk and smirked at
Mr. Meade. He didn’t like it. It was not the reaction he was looking for.
    The door
opened again and in walked the new girl. All conversation ceased as she stood
in the doorway with her high heels and short, yellow sundress. Her long, brown
hair flowed over her shoulders as she took in a visual tour of the classroom.
Then she strutted across the floor and handed Mr. Meade a folded piece of
paper. Every eye in homeroom was on her.
    Mr. Meade read
the note, and then said, “Class, this is Rachel Riley. She’s a new student,
having just moved here from California. I’m sure you will all make her feel
very welcome and take the time to show her around.” Mr. Meade peered at us
through his thick, oversized glasses—not so much a suggestion, but an order.
    A murmur of
welcomes echoed through the classroom.
    “Rachel,” Mr. Meade
said as he walked toward me glaring, “you can take this empty seat next to
Jacob Rovert. If he annoys you too much, I’ll switch you with another student.”
    I snickered
and shook my head. What an idiot.
    “Hello again, Jacob ,”
Rachel mocked.
    “My friends
just call me Jake,” I told her politely.
    “Does that
mean I can call you Jake?” she asked with a presumptuous grin.
    “Sure,” I
answered as uninterested as