Wraith Read Online Free Page A

jail!”
    Evan leaned against the wall of lockers, crossing his arms over his chest and fixed me with a glare. “You of all people should know not to listen to rumors.”
    A twinge of guilt manifested at his accusation, but I refused to give in. Yes, I listened to the rumors, but I’d seen him with my own eyes vandalizing public property. “I’m not talking to him. I’m not giving him the chance to make fun of me or whatever it is he’s up to. In fact it makes more sense now, with his background, that he was messing with me. He probably broke into my records and found out just enough to freak me out.”
    I’d begun walking again, leaving Evan behind me, pouting against the wall. “Fine. Just…” I looked back before turning the corner and saw he had vanished.
    “Ooof!” I exhaled when I slammed into someone hard. “Watch it!” I shouted.
    “You watch it.”
    I focused on the jerk I’d run into and who currently had his hands on my upper arms, holding me upright. The jerk who had crystal blue eyes and warm, firm hands.
    Connor. Of course.
    I shrugged my arms away from him and glanced away from his eyes and hair and his warm skin, and swallowed the apology that had been on my tongue.
    “Excuse me.” I attempted to dart around him.
    His hand gripped my arm, attempting to stop me. “Wait.” I twisted out of his reach. Now that I knew he was a troublemaker of some variety, I really didn’t want to tangle with him again. I didn’t want him to make fun of me.
    “Jane, right?” His feet moved behind mine, and the thick soles of his boots scuffed the floor. “Your name’s Jane, right?”
    “Leave me alone.”
    We were approaching the Fine Arts Hall and I assessed that in twenty more feet I could be back in the classroom, away from him.
    “Stop, okay? Just give me a minute.” His voice was low but laced with frustration, and I couldn’t help but turn.
    “What?” I half-whispered, half-yelled. “What do you want?”
    When he saw that I’d stopped, his shoulders—perfectly broad, in that not too wide, not too narrow kind of way, I noted—relaxed, and I saw the glimmer of relief in his eyes. “I want to talk to you for a minute. Dammit.” He rubbed the corner of his mouth. “I want to apologize, for the other day.”
    I eyed him. “Fine. Apology accepted. Finished?”
    “No,” he snapped. “I’m not finished. I apologize for my rudeness and just coming up like that. I know…I know that was harsh, but we need to talk. Away from school.”
    I shook my head in disapproval before he finished talking. “Yeah, that’s not happening.”
    I took a minute to assess Connor head to toe. He wore a black T-shirt under an open button-down shirt, jeans and black work boots. There were multi-colored paint drops on the hems of his pants. He appeared normal and I knew he had friends and I knew he had been in trouble, but he seemed to know more about me than he should, and all I wanted was to stay invisible.
    “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I don’t want part of it. I know what the other kids say about me and you just got back and all, but everyone has finally left me alone. Just because it’s new to you doesn’t mean I’m willing to be your punching bag. Find someone else to mess with.”
    I said the words with as much venom and confidence I could muster, ignoring my shaking hands. I ran back to class, pulled out my drawing and refusing to make eye contact with anyone.
    Several minutes passed before I heard the door swing open and Connor entered the room. He’d obviously waited outside so it wouldn’t appear we were in the hallway together—further evidence, in my opinion, that he didn’t really want to have anything to do with me. With my head down, I waited for the sounds of his stool to slide back as he settled into his seat. It didn’t happen. Instead, I sensed him hovering by my desk, taking the long way back to his. In reaction my heart hammered in my chest.
    I refused to look