Prep School Experiment Read Online Free Page B

things. But hey, it’s an excuse to get away. Okay?” Christian said, lowering his voice. “Or, how about a swim?”
    Rhys nodded. “A swim sounds good.”
     
    ***
     
    Despite the fact that he’d done fifty laps and was exhausted, Rhys couldn’t sleep. He rolled over and reached for the bed’s remote control, increasing the density of the high-end mattress. He flopped to his back and then adjusted the remote again. No luck. He tossed the controller aside. The sleep setting was fine. The lighting was fine. The temperature was fine. The problem in the Wentworth’s unfamiliar guest room was his spinning mind. Despite the madness, he must have slept, because a tap on the door awakened him.
    “Come in.”
    A uniformed maid brought in a glass of orange juice on a silver tray. She set it on his night stand. “I’ve laid out clothes in your bathroom. Breakfast’s in the blue dining room in an hour.”
    “Thanks.” Rhys chugged the orange juice, hit the shower, and put on more borrowed clothes. He had to ask directions to the breakfast room. Everyone else had already assembled, including Bob, who appeared to be the most rested of the group.
    Today, he and members the Wentworth family resembled each other: shadows under their eyes, awkward glances, and no appetite. For the most part, everyone in the household pretended to eat while staring at him like he was a two-headed calf. Rhys made it through two bites of oatmeal before putting his spoon down.
    Bob ran down the plan. No more Trallwyn High School. Also, he’d already couriered a letter to Mom at the trailer park. It outlined Rhys’ boarding school admission, eligibility for a scholarship, and the monetary stipend she’d get while he was gone. Bob said he’d take Rhys to see Mom and get his stuff. Then, they’d head to Houston’s Intercontinental Airport.
    As early as it was, Rhys was relieved when the clock ticked six-thirty and he could leave. He didn’t envy Christian, heading back to class after all the weekend drama. He would have liked a little more time before leaving. But he’d experienced moves with less notice. Sometimes avoiding all the sentiment was for the best.
    Mrs. Wentworth hugged him, crying. The senator hugged him next, and then Christian, and then Mrs. Wentworth again. They were a touchy family, like a bunch of primates. Going on no food and no sleep, he felt the emotion being flung at him as if he were separate from his own body. He welcomed the cushion.
    He and Bob hit THS first, where he caught a couple of friends and said good-bye. He didn’t see Portia, but once word got out he was on his way to Alaska, a few of Elena’s and Thane’s friends sent messages for him to take back to them. The Alaska news plus the decathlon news made him hot property in the hallway. But, Bob had given him only twenty minutes to get in and get out.
    Rhys took thirty.
    Next, they went to the trailer park. Bob drove, his gaze seeming to miss nothing of the dirt road, junker cars, or clothes lines.
    Rhys sat straighter and reached for the door handle the second Bob put the car in park.
    “I’ll wait in the car,” Bob said.
    Rhys nodded and got out. He hadn’t intended to invite him in for toaster pastries.
    Both Mom and Stepdad #4 were up. They stared at Rhys like they didn’t recognize him—and they didn’t know the half of it. He headed to his room, grabbed a duffle and threw his clothes inside, going on autopilot.
    Mom and Stepdad #4 watched from his doorway.
    Stepdad #4 kicked the doorjamb. “Like Alaska ain’t going to make him weirder.”
    “Hush.” Mom moved into his room and handed him a stack of books to add to the pile. “This is a real good opportunity for Rhys. That school’s going to pay us a little stipend. Not enough, mind you, but something. He’ll get a good education and money for college.”
    “We can rent his room out, once that burnt smell from all those chemistry experiments dies down.”
    “I said, hush. Why don’t you