Emerge: The Awakening Read Online Free Page A

that. But if anyone was truly capable of being her friend, it was Aidan, and if she was truly honest with herself, she was desperate to explore that possibility. She could not face the lonely life she’d learned to accept before Gavin. Not now, when she knew what it was like to have real friends. She refused to go back.
    Allie was determined to connect with Aidan. The real Aidan. If he could put his mask away long enough to let her in.
    <><><>
    Exhausted after another sleepless night, and not in the best of moods, Allie sipped her coffee as she leaned over the ferryboat railing. Shivering in the cool breeze, she watched the queue of cars creeping onto the deck below. She was suddenly hyperaware of the sleek, steel gray car passing beneath her feet. It was one of those expensive, sporty European hybrid things with dark tinted windows.  
    Aidan and his friends. She didn’t pause to consider how she knew they were in that particular car.
    He soon joined her on the upper deck, while the others strayed off with their friends. He had fake Aidan firmly in place as he sidled up beside her. His elbow brushed her arm and they both stilled at the normal contact. The spark of attraction was definitely still there, but Allie felt a strong urge to put him securely in the “friend” box and keep him there. He obviously did not.
    “Morning, Lex.” He slid closer, letting the mask fall away. He didn’t seem capable of keeping it in place around her.
    “Knock it off with the Lex crap,” she snapped.
    Jeez, Allie! She winced at her tone. No wonder you have trouble making friends!
    “Not a morning person?” His grin was contagious. He was more like himself now.
    “Sorry, I guess I’m not really the bright-eyed sort.” She couldn’t help her smile. “Dude, is that a violin strapped to your back?” she snorted.
    “Yeah. That supposed to be funny?”
    “Band geek? Doesn’t really fit the whole tattooed-muscled-pretty-jock-boy thing you’ve got going on.” 
    “Pretty?” he scowled. “I do not play in the marching band, sweetheart. I’m first violinist and concertmaster of the Cliffton Orchestra.”
    “Eh, play me some Bach and this cranky redhead will shut up.”
    “You’re all sorts of trouble, aren’t you?” he said dryly.
    “Me? You might as well be holding a sign that says ‘WARNING: dark and dangerous. Keep out.’”
    “Are you normally this mean or is it just me?” he grinned.
    “Sorry, it’s me. I haven’t slept in like a year, so I’m crabby. But I’m afraid the sarcasm comes with the package. You hang out with me long enough you’re bound to get burned.” 
    “Allie, how old are you?” The odd question caught her by surprise.
    “I skipped second grade so I won’t be sixteen for another month.”
    “That explains it.”
    “Explains what?”
    “I’m just trying to figure you out.”
    “I promise I’m not all that complicated.” 
    “I beg to differ.” 
    “Enough about me. What’s with them?” She rolled her eyes at Sasha and the others. Quinn and Graham were pretending like they hadn’t been caught staring. Sasha waved, mouthing something Allie couldn’t quite make out. And Chloe took a bashful step behind Quinn. Aidan’s friends all reacted to Allie the way most people did, but they also seemed utterly fascinated with her and that kinda creeped her out. 
    “They find you bizarrely intimidating.”
    “Most people do,” she said frankly, “but could you make the staring stop?”
    “I’ll talk to them.”
    “It’s kinda strange how all your friends are adopted,” she said.
    “You know anything about your birth parents?” he asked.
    “Not a thing.”
    “Same here.”
    “Sometimes I actually forget Lily and Carson aren’t my real parents. They seem so much a part of me.”
    “My dad and I are a lot alike,” Aidan said hesitantly. “It’s like he was supposed to be my father, and Sasha might as well be my twin. What’s your family like?”
    “My mom’s an