Heis. I’ve already learned we share history class. He’s a genius, always right. Though before he answers, he almostalways teases Mr. Brown until he’s seconds away from getting kicked out.
“So what?” Steven asks warily.
Vincent glances at me, amused, then back at him. “So you can help us with our science homework. Then we’re even.”
Steven throws me a strange look. I wink back, digging into my cheesecake.
“I’ve got an Xbox,” Vincent adds casually.
That does it. Steven’s eyes light up, and he nods.
I clap my hands, thrilled. Vincent goes back to his burger, smug, while Steven attacks his sandwich.
I slide one of my cheesecakes onto Steven’s tray, keeping the other between Vincent and me.
––––––––
-*?? . ??? ? ?.-*??
I love the Cooper backyard. It’s huge, and you can run around endlessly. In spring it fills with daisies and dandelions, not to mention the flowers Chris plants. I can’t wait for the tulips and sunflowers to bloom.
“So the White & Cream bakery belongs to your parents?” I hear Vincent ask while he plucks at the strings of the ukulele I gave him last year.
I turn toward him. He and Steven are sitting on the back porch, talking since we finished our science homework. They seem to be getting along surprisingly well. There’s a strange connection between them.
As soon as we were done with our homework, I’d run into the garden with Percy, and we’ve been chasing each other back and forth ever since.
Steven nods at Vincent’s question. “We moved because my grandmother died. It used to be hers,” he says like it’s nothing.
I freeze at his words, and Percy takes the chance to catch me, leaping on top of me and knocking us both onto the grass.
Vincent and Steven both look over. My best friend’s grinning, almost bursting into laughter, while Steven actually seems to enjoy the sight.
Percy sprawls across my stomach, settling in for a nap. I glance at Steven. He catches my eye and smirks, and my cheeks burn.
He’s cute. I like the color of his hair. He’s smart, and when he forgets about not wanting friends, he’s nice. And he always holds doors open for me whenever we walk into a room together.
Vincent has the most beautiful freckles in the world, scattered across his nose. His hazel eyes sparkle with yellow flecks around the pupils. He asked his parents forJust Dancejust so I could play it, and he always helps me put Asher to sleep by whispering lullabies whenever my mother locks herself in her room.
Steven looks away, back to Vincent. “So how many instruments can you play? I haven’t figured it out yet.”
I sigh and watch the clouds drift overhead, half-listening to their conversation from a distance. Why doesn’t Steven ever talk like that to me? And why does Vincent seem to have more fun with him than with me?
“Maybe it’s because they’re boys. What do you think?” I whisper to Percy, pressing him against my chest and closing my eyes—unaware of Vincent’s and Steven’s eyes fixed on me. If only I’d opened them all the way.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Nova Marshall
PAST (2014)
“I sing and play the guitar, and I’m a walking, talking bacterial infection.”
Kurt Cobain
“Hurry up or Matthew Harrison’s gonna steal all of Mrs. Price’s fruit jellies!” I yell, sprinting down the sidewalk, dodging around a witch with a crooked hat and a tiny vampire dragging a pillowcase of candy twice his size. “If he takes the grape ones, I swear I’ll—”
“We’re coming, you menace!” Steven shouts behind me, his voice muffled by the foam wings strapped to his Buzz Lightyear costume. He’s running beside Vincent, who keeps shoving his glasses up his nose every three seconds because they keep sliding down with the sweat.
