The girl is clapping and hooting wildly. And when she turns and I see her profile, I jump to my feet.
“Mena, what is it?” Sydney asks, standing up. I can barely catch my breath.
“Lennon Rose,” I murmur. “That’s … That’s Lennon Rose.” I lift a shaky hand to point at her just as the cheers begin to die down. Next to me, Sydney sways and puts her hand over her heart.
“It can’t be,” she whispers.
Lennon Rose Scholar was one of our dearest friends at the academy. We vowed to protect her and did our best to do so. But we failed, the fact of which broke us all. Lennon Rose disappeared one night, leaving her shoes by her bed. It was only later that the Guardian implied that she’d been destroyed.
Murdered.
Wemournedher.
Sydney grabs the sleeve of my shirt and pulls me down the aisle. The guy sitting in gum reaches out to “accidentally” run his palm along my calf. I flinch like I’ve been burned, but when I look at him, he stares past me like he didn’t even notice he touched me without permission.
I have a wild flash of anger, volatile enough to punch him. Ieven curl my fist. But when he lifts his eyes to mine, as if daring me to try, I know that it’s not a fight I’ll win. Because hitting him while he feigns innocence will be twisted into making me the aggressor. And I won’t let him frame it that way.
“Don’t touch me again,” I say simply. Sydney glares at him fiercely and then motions for me to come on.
“You okay?” she asks as we start down the bleachers. I tell her that I am as we move toward where Lennon Rose is standing.
I examine Lennon Rose, although I can’t see her face. She’s not wearing a uniform, so I don’t think she attends Ridgeview. In fact, I might not have recognized her at all if I hadn’t seen her profile. Her hair, although still blond, is worn in a different way. She wasn’t allowed to wear ponytails at the academy. Her bangs have grown out and are brushed to one side, showing more of her face. Her blue eyes are framed in dark, fake lashes, her lips painted bright pink. Her entire approved color scheme has changed.
Lennon Rose is wearing black yoga pants, sneakers, and a tan jacket. She fits in seamlessly with the people around her. Including the handsome boy she’s standing next to. He’s tall with shaved black hair. When she flashes him a smile, he seems to melt under her attention, even though he plays it cool and nods at her.
As we stomp down the metal bleachers, Lennon Rose puts her hand on the boy’s arm, laughing loudly.
Sydney and I are shocked to see her alive. Lennon Rose is here in front of us.
And as if she can hear my thoughts, Lennon Rose glances over her shoulder directly at me. She has no noticeable reaction,almost like she knew I was there all along. Her big blue eyes seem to reach right into my chest and pluck out my heart.
I press my lips together to keep from crying. She glances at Sydney before looking back at me. It’s nearly imperceptible, or maybe not at all, but Lennon Rose tells us not to come over. Sydney stops me, realizing the same thing.
Lennon Rose stares at us until the crowd erupts in another raucous cheer. She turns to the boy and hugs him as they both cheer in celebration.
And then, without another glance, Lennon Rose takes his hand and leads him from the bleachers. Sydney and I watch them head toward the parking lot, but we don’t move.
“She … ,” Sydney starts, furrowing her brow.
“She’s alive,” I say, finishing her sentence. “She’s here.” I pause. “How is she here? How this school?”
“I don’t know,” Sydney replies. The game must be nearing its end, because a few people push past us on their way to leave.
“What should we do?” I ask Sydney, moving aside so people can get around me on the stairs.
“We follow her,” Sydney says.
I wait a beat before I nod. And then Sydney and I hurry down the bleachers toward the parking lot in hopes of catching up with her.
We can’t let Lennon Rose get away.
Innovations Academy
Roman Petrov, Headmaster
Product Specification Guide for Lennon Rose
