Psych Investigation Episodes: Episode 1 (A Young Adult Scifi / Fantasy) Read Online Free Page B

softened. “Look, how about
this? You seem like such a nice guy. You’re not like all the other
macho-brained idiots around here, and I could use a good friend
like you. Why don’t you let me help you with this math? I know
you’re struggling with it, and I’m actually pretty good. Let me
tutor you.”
    Jack looked up from the ground, surprise
forming wrinkles over his features. Adam was glad Melissa decided
to spare his feelings.
    “ You want to tutor
me
?”
    “ Sure, why not? You could certainly
use the help, and since I moved here recently I don’t have a lot of
guy friends.” She winked at him.
    Melissa and her two friends stood from the
bleachers. She took one step forward then stopped mid-stride. “Oh,
and by the way. We’re starting tonight, so be ready for me around
eight. I’ll come to your place.”
    Adam thought he could hear the sound of his
friend’s heart beating faster. “You’re what? Tonight!”
    Melissa laughed. “Yes, Jack. Give me your
address. The teacher is probably going to make us redo the
assignment in record time, so … you kind of need to learn this
stuff as soon as possible."
    Jack rustled around his pockets in a fanatical
craze, and Adam knew he didn’t have paper to write down his number.
When Jack came up short he pouted, giving Adam a pleading,
desperate look.
    “ Yeah, yeah, I know,” Adam said.
“This is why you should come to school prepared.” Adam reached into
his backpack, and then passed Jack a pen and a yellow Post-It. Jack
scribbled something that might have been English, but upon closer
inspection resembled ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.
    Melissa saluted them. “I’ll see you boys around
later.” She walked gracefully away with her two friends.
    “ Did you see that, Adam? She’s
coming over tonight. I told you I was lucky today. She’s going to
be tutoring me. The most gorgeous girl in school is coming over to
my house.” Jack wore a grin, and Adam couldn’t help but return a
smile of his own. “Adam! Let’s do our victory bump.”
    “ No way, Jack.”
    “ Aww, come on.”
    “ Jack, there’s no way in hell I’m
bumping fists with you while shouting, ‘wonder twin powers
activate.’”
    Adam didn’t know what could’ve possessed
Melissa to try tutoring Jack. That in itself was a lost cause. Adam
knew because he had tried. He had tried on
several
occasions, he recalled bitterly. At any rate, he appreciated the
kindhearted response.
    “ Can we please go back to what we
were talking about before?”
    Jack sighed. “Fine, fine, whatever.”
    Adam thought of a way to return to the odd
conversation. He hoped for the life of him he was correct in his
assessment of Jack. If the fires turned out to be the work of some
freak, scientifically-explained accident, then Adam would feel
stupid for months.
    “ Right before the fires started,
moments before it was our turn to have our homework checked—what
were you doing?”
    “ I already told you. I wasn’t doing
anything. You were there, remember? We were sitting down waiting to
be yelled at, and the desks just started lighting on fire. If you
seriously think that I somehow pulled out a firework or something,
you’re crazier than I am.”
    Adam rubbed his eyes. Clearly, his friend
didn’t understand what he was implying. Adam needed to explain that
he suspected him of doing it mentally. Adam wasn’t sure where his
suspicions came from, yet he couldn’t shake the constant nagging in
the back of his mind that something was very wrong.
    Adam was about to speak, but he closed his
mouth, catching movement out of the corner of his eye. Two
classmates marched over to the bleachers, halting in front of Adam
and Jack. Adam knew by the scowls on their faces that the two punks
meant trouble.
    Adam recognized one as Richard Davins. He’d
been the one throwing paper balls at Jack earlier. The other one,
Adam didn’t recognize. Both were giants. With each step, muscles
popped out of their tank tops. Oh, they