Chapter 4

I make my way to my locker, trying to avoid touching anyone. I always wear a sweater with extra-long sleeves to help prevent it. I would wear gloves, but that would draw too many questions.

My locker is way at the end of the hallway, deep within the blueprint of my school. A few people brush by me accidentally. Most ignore me, as I do them. But one boy turns and asks me something. I can’t hear what he’s saying. “What’d ye say?” I say, my Irish brogue thick with irritation.

“Can you direct me to locker 472?” he says in a British accent. He’s obviously new, and maybe not so bright. We’re standing right in front of locker 403. “That one’s away down there,” I point. I realize that his locker is next to mine. Up until now, I’ve had the last locker on the end of the row. It’s been separated from the other lockers by two empty ones. Well, there goes my corner.

I begin to walk down the hallway, hoping that the new kid will keep his distance. He looks kind of like a scene kid. Tattoos sleeve, jet-black hair with blue streaks in it, long black nails, and way too much eye make-up.

Obviously it isn’t my lucky day. He follows me closely. So closely that I can feel his body heat. I quicken my steps to put some distance between us. He won’t take the hint. By the time I reach my locker, I’m sweating. I don’t like being close to people. Especially ones I don’t know.

I work the combination on my locker with shaky fingers, and slip my books out. The new kid waits until I’ve finished before he opens his locker.

“You know,” he says, his voice echoing in the empty locker. “You really should relax. I’m not nearly as crazy as I look.”

Oh thanks. I feel so much better, I sarcastically think to myself.

“My name is Alistair,” he continued in spite of my silence. “Yours is Kiera?”

My head snaps up in surprise. “And how ye be knowin’ that?”

“Well, for starters, you’re carrying your schedule in your hand and it’s got your name on it,” Alistair said. “And you’ve written your name on your notebook. In black marker.”

I look down, even though I know what he says is true. “Eh. Well, I’ve a class to go to,” I say, embarrassed. I turn about and walk back down the hall. It’s nearly empty now. Everyone glances at me, and then turns back to whatever they were doing.

As I turn the corner into my homeroom, I catch sight of Alistair. How did he beat me here? No, it isn’t Alistair. It’s someone else. They look remarkably similar, though. Definitely related. Possibly twins.

He looks at me. No particular emotion, just glancing. Studying me. Whatever he’s doing, it’s uncomfortable. I move behind Ray, the tallest girl in the 10th grade.

“Hey, Kiera!” she says cheerfully. She just won’t give up. I’ve worked hard on my antisocial exterior, so it’s a little frustrating. I nod in return, not looking at her.

When I take my seat, not-Alistair glances over again. The way he’s doing it isn’t suspicious, but I still don’t like it. I guess I’m a little paranoid. Fortunately, my seat is nearest the door. I’ve been known to take off for no apparent reason before.

…

The lesson is boring, as is regrettably typical of high school. I read the assigned work to myself. I don’t understand why class takes an hour when I can read the material to myself in less than 10 minutes.

It looks like Not-Alistair is doing the same thing. I read quickly, competing in a race that he doesn’t know about. He tries to sneak a look at me, but I see it. What is with him?

I hear a snicker behind me. I don’t bother looking. It’s Lainey, the most gossip-hungry girl at school. Lovely. By noon, the whole school will think I’ve been flirting with not-Alistair. There goes my whole “unfriendly-so-leave-me-alone” persona.