Shadow Boy Read Online Free Page B

that’s what she wanted.
    “Yeah?” I say.
    “Yeah,” she says, grinning at me. It doesn’t quite reach her eyes, but her eyes aren’t actually looking at me, anyway. They’re sort of glued to my shoulder. She jerkily sticks her hand out and I look at it for a second. She waves the hand. “Shake,” she prompts me.
    I hesitantly reach up, not sure I WANT to shake on this. I’m moving too slowly for her, I can tell, because she reaches down and grabs my hand, shaking it without letting me close my hand around hers.
    “Now we can NEVER mention this again, right?” she demands before racing away.
    I reach up, rubbing my chest with a little frown, wondering why it just started hurting again. Maybe I swallowed a bit of water or something, I decide. I guess a visit to one of the healers wouldn’t be a bad idea. Let’s see… Aubrey would be the best choice, but she’s in the apartments, next would be Bobby, I guess, since he’s a guy. Honestly, I should be healed by now, I think with a bit of frustration. It’s one of those few things my old man actually gave me.
    I blink at the sight of Max standing at the end of the hall, watching me with a hint of amusement. “What?” I ask.
    “Zoe sent me a text,” he says, holding up his phone. “She says you have to go to the other dorms.”
    I go still, thinking of who lives in the other dorms—the Superiors are gone, moved out to play guard to Mother. The only ones still there at the moment are the healers, that Jersey Devil woman, Doris, and— “No. Not going. Tell your girlfriend to play with someone else’s life,” I say, starting to go past him. I take another step, but I don’t feel the ground beneath my feet anymore. “Max,” I say irritably.
    “If you use your power on someone in the dorms, Morgan takes them!” Lance calls as a group walks past us, heading for their rooms.
    “Morgan isn’t back from North Hall, yet,” Max says, not lowering me.
    “It’s still against the rules,” Lance says.
    “Yeah, Max, it’s against the rules,” I parrot, glaring at him and crossing my arms over my chest. At least my chest doesn’t hurt as much, I notice. Maybe it was indigestion.
    “Why does Zoe want you to talk to Skystep?” Max asks.
    I stare back, just as stubbornly. We’re almost the same age, and we just got back from a month on the road together, practically. I’m not intimidated by the name “Maximum” anymore. In fact, he and I are pretty good friends—except for when he pulls tricks like this.
    “I will CARRY you all the way there if you don’t explain,” he threatens me.
    “You are so whipped, man,” I say, scowling at him. “Does she pick out your clothes for you, too?” I taunt him.
    “Why yes, she DID pick out this outfit for me,” Max says with a smug little grin. “She says it makes me look even hotter than usual.”
    I choke, barking with laughter as he poses. “You’re lying,” I accuse him.
    “You’ll never know,” he says. “Who knows, I might have been reading her mind at the time,” he adds a bit blandly, still subtly crowing over the fact that his telepathy is finally working properly. “Either way, you’re changing the subject, so if you’d prefer to talk about something else—I think Carla just went to play video games with Cisco. They’ve got the den all to themselves, too,” he taunts.
    I turn, wanting to go straight to the den and—and play chaperon. JUST play chaperon—
    “You’re so obvious that I don’t even NEED to read your mind,” Max says, snorting as he starts for the stairs. I have no choice but to float behind him, so I kick back, lounging in the air. It’s the closest I’ll ever get to flying.
    “If I’m so obvious, why don’t YOU explain?” I ask, digging through my pocket and bringing out my phone. I tap on the screen, sorting through the music I stole while out in the field. I bring up some fast dance music and streaming it through my ever-present earbud, intent on ignoring