“Let’s see… Calculus, AP Language Arts, AP World History, Art… Jesus. You reallyarea nerd. Aside from art. Cool people take art,” Axel teases. “Your locker’s this way,” he notes, suddenly veering left.
I hurry after him as he points out different halls and classrooms, but the school layout seems straight forward making me doubt I’ll get lost.
My attention begins to waver when other students start greeting him. He bumps fists and jokes with a few guys, but moves on quickly when they notice me lingering behind, like a shadow. It makes me think he doesn’t want to explain our situation. Can’t say I blame him.
We weave through the crowd until Axel stops in front of a group of lockers. He scans my paper again, then taps one.
“Here,” he announces.
“Well, thanks for helping me this morning,” I say, suddenly feeling shy. “I know you didn’t have to.”
“Actually, I did.”
“What?”
“Mom said I had to,” he shrugs.
“Oh.” I pause, suddenly feeling very stupid. Of course he wouldn’t actuallywantto help me. “Well… thanks anyways.”
Axel hands me back my schedule but doesn’t automatically release his hold on it, waiting until he has my full attention.
“Hang onto this. Once you’ve got everything memorized, shred it. If someone gets ahold of your combo, you’re screwed. People are petty around here,” he warns.
He’s already walking off before I can reply, and I stare at his back until he’s out of sight. Shaking my head, I turn back to my locker.
“Axel, huh?”
A voice at my side startles me. A tall, pretty redhead leans against the locker next to mine. Her sleek, straight hair is a perfect shade of copper, and her green eyes pop with a sharp wing of eyeliner.
“Just so you know, he’s taken,” she adds casually, but I can tell she means it.
I snort before I can stop myself, causing her expression to harden.
“No,” I say quickly, waving my hands. “You’ve got it all wrong. Axel’s my… cousin. His mom’s my aunt.”
I tack on, “he’s all yours,” in hopes of placating her.
It seems to work and her features relax at my explanation.
“Oh, he’s not mine. He’s Rachel’s.” She flips her hair off her shoulder. “I’m Jessie.”
“Lina.”
Jessie eyes me critically. “You don’t look like cousins.”
And there it is. Dammit. I didn’t think of that. Axel and Johnny are both tall, dark, and brooding, while I’m average, blonde, and…stunning, I guess. Whateverthatmeans.
“We’re… stepcousins,” I amend. “No blood relation.”
Shit, shit, shit!I mentally slap myself.Are we stepcousins in our story?I don’t know. Thinking about our fake family tree is already making my head hurt. I mentally note to ask Ben and have him add that detail, just in case.
Why can I never just stick with the plan?
Jessie nods, oblivious to my inner conflict.
“Ah, that explains it. Well, see you around, Lina.” She hesitates. “Oh, and good luck. Hazing new students is kind of a thing around here,” she adds quickly with a wince.
Her parting words make me blanch, but before I can spiral the warning bell rings, signaling I need to get my butt into gear.
