Code by Kathy Reichs Read Free Book Online

stupidity, Madison was a threat.
    At that moment, the threat caught sight of me. Her face paled and she slowed.
    Ashley and Courtney bumped into Madison from behind. Confused by their queen bee’s hesitation, they followed her sight line.
    Gripping her books tightly, Madison fired past me and ducked into a bathroom. Courtney and Ashley hurried on her heels, shooting uneasy glances my way.
    “Man.” Hi had noted the exchange. “You’ve got Madison spooked, that’s for sure. Let’s hope she’s not sending letters to
Cosmo.
”
    I’d told the Virals about my blunder. They hadn’t been pleased. At all.
    I was about to respond to Hi’s comment when Jason Taylor rounded the corner.
    “Tory.” Jason began fidgeting with his tie. “I hope you’re, uh, doing well. Had a good weekend, all that.”
    Ben’s lips formed a smirk. Eyes rolling, he turned and walked off. Hi and Shelton drifted a few feet down the hall.
    Jason had the blue eyes and white-blond hair of a Nordic god. The physique too. Big and strong, he was a sick athlete, and captained Bolton’s lacrosse team. A truly decent guy, he’d been an ally at Bolton from the outset.
    An ally with a surprising interest in me.
    I’d never known how to feel about Jason. Still didn’t.
    Jason was the only guy at Bolton who seemed to notice me. He was cute. Friendly. Funny. Super popular. Everything a girl could want in a boyfriend. At least, I thought so, having no real experience in the field.
    And yet . . . nothing. For some reason, Jason just didn’t do it for me. I’d never felt the same attraction. My palms didn’t sweat. My pulse didn’t race. It made no sense. I couldn’t explain it, even to myself.
    Which made the situation . . . awkward.
    I shouldn’t complain—for most girls, Jason’s attention would’ve been all that mattered. And I treasured him as a friend. He looked out for me at school, keeping the nastier trust-fund brats off my back.
    “Hi, Jason,” I said awkwardly. “My weekend was fine. You?”
    “Me? Oh, great. Took the boat out, played golf. Nice weather, um, right?”
    “Definitely.” I shifted, needlessly adjusting my book bag straps. “Sunny.”
    Uneasiness around Jason was collateral damage from my reckless display. Flustered by my blunder with Madison, I’d been totally unprepared when Jason offered to escort me to the debutante ball. Angry with myself, I’d lashed out at him, too.
    We didn’t speak again until school started, and even then we’d carefully avoided that topic. The eggshell dance was moving into its second month, with no end in sight.
    It didn’t help that Madison had eyes for Jason, and viewed
me
as a rival.
    And Ben seriously disliked him.
    Nothing is ever simple.
    The bell spared us further discomfort.
    “Gotta run,” I said, thankful for the reprieve. “See you later!”
    “Later.” Jason tossed a head-nod to Shelton and Hi as he passed them. The Two Stooges clumsily returned the gesture.
    Shelton drifted back to my side wearing a sly grin. “That was smooth, player.”
    “Shut it.”
    The awkward conversation had reminded me of Whitney’s instructions. I needed guys for my stupid debut, and didn’t have a plan.
    Jason had volunteered, but that was months ago, and I’d rejected his offer. Rudely. Did it still stand? Choosing an A-lister might be a good move. Jason had always defended me when he could.
    But I totally embarrassed him. Why would he say yes now?
    Shelton tapped his watch. “Today, Brennan.”
    Just then, Hi scurried across the hallway in a rush. “Did you guys hear the news?”
    “What news?” Shelton tugged his earlobe, a nervous habit. “I already know I’m not going to like it.”
    “It’s all over Twitter. He’s out! They released him last weekend.”
    “Who?” But I knew.
    Had no doubt.
    “Chance Claybourne.” Hi shook his head in disbelief. “He’s coming back to Bolton.”

CHAPTER 7
    T iny droplets splashed my arms.
    Tom Blue’s shuttle,
Hugo,
was kicking