Fear Me Not (The EVE Chronicles) by Sara Wolf Read Free Book Online Page A

girl on our team smacks her gum. “She’s total shit. Next time don’t even bother playing.”
    “You looked like a dying fish,” Another girl laughs. Dakota flushes and her eyes glue to the floor.
    “I hope I never look that stupid. Ever. You’ll tell me if I look that stupid, right?” The gum-smacker looks to her friend.
    Anger flares in me, a lion prodded, an ember meeting oxygen. Alisa was teased just like this, every day. And I’m not there to stop it. But I can stop it here, and now. I throw my ball as hard as I can. It smashes into gum-smacker’s chest. She stumbles, gasps, and swallows her gum. 
    “Don’t talk shit, assface,” I snarl. “Makes you look even uglier.”
    “Hale! Get over here right now!” Mr. Targe snaps. He points threateningly. “I don’t know what your problem is, but I don’t like it. Detention. Meet me here after school. You’ll be cleaning the court.”
    “Did you hear what she was saying?” I protest. “That’s straight bullying!”
    “And what you did was no better,” Targe insists. “Another word out of your mouth and it’ll be double detention.”
    I gape like a dying fish, bury my fury, and flop on the bench beside Dakota. She shoots me a look.
    “Y-You didn’t have to do that. I’m used to it. They don’t affect me anymore.”
    “It’s okay. I just can’t stand hearing crap like that.” I tighten my ponytail and glower at Targe’s back. She looks at the floor sheepishly.
    Mr. Targe makes me haul crates of traffic cones and baseball bats into a closet for hours. I slide a crate of basketballs across the polished floor. Targe walks to the gym door.
    “I’m going to get a few more things. I don’t want to catch you slacking, you hear? The faster you finish, the faster you can leave.”
    I make a sarcastic salute. “Sir!”
    He rolls his eyes and pushes out of the gym. I’m alone. The basketball hoop hangs like a misused spider web.
    “How’s the weather up there?” I shout at it. It flutters a little. I stand at the free throw line and toss a ball. Miss.
    “Assigned detention already, human? You’re pathetic.” Taj walks onto the court. I heave a sigh.
    “Just leave me in peace, Buttercup. I wanna finish and get out.”
    “Buttercup?” He bristles at the nickname.
    “Your hair kills my eyes. Were you intentionally going for the ‘over-bleached surfer’ look? Maybe it makes you stand out - that’s important when your peers all look like clones of you. Gives you some pride.”
    He stares at me, gold eyes easier to look at than the smoldering crimson of Shadus or the piercing sky blue of Raine. A faint smile plays on his mouth - a real smile. Not a smirk or triumphant snicker.
    “Congratulations, human. You’re the only one who seems to get it.” He finally says. “The Gutters don’t understand. My family, especially, doesn’t understand.”
    “Talk to more humans. We all understand that sort of thing. Why do you think we get tattoos and pierce our ears?”
    “I assumed general stupidity.” He shoves his hands in his jean pockets. “Is Targe around? I was supposed to meet with him.”
    “He’ll be back as soon as he’s done pulling his head out of his ass.”
    Taj’s gold eyes take in the crate of basketballs. He walks over and picks up the ball I threw.
    “I don’t normally offer my valuable time and assistance, but there’s nothing better to do at the moment. I’ll help you in your punishment. Consider yourself lucky.”
    Strong arms throw the ball. I catch it and toss it in the crate.
    “Beefy jock like you must’ve gotten lots of exercise on your spaceship as a kid, huh?” I try. Taj throws me another basketball.
    “Curious about our ship, are you? Most humans are. It’s more beautiful than anything you humans could dream of constructing.”
    “I saw it when I was a kid on TV.” I dribble the ball a bit. “Kinda looks like a poop-rock.”
    Taj’s face turns the color of a boiled beet. “It’s not a – I refuse