Firelight by Sophie Jordan Read Free Book Online Page A

her. “We’re late.”

    “They’ll cut us some slack. We’re new.”
    I nod, plucking at the severely dog-eared corner of my geometry book. “See you at lunch?”
    Tamra moves to the mirror to check her hair. “Remember what I said.”
    I pause, staring at her beautiful reflection. Hard to believe I’m a twin to such a polished creature.
    She drapes a perfect strand of her red-gold hair over her shoulder. The end curves slightly inward.
    “Stay away from that guy.”
    “Yeah,” I agree, but even as I walk out into the deserted hallway I stop and scan to the left and right of me, looking, searching. Hoping. Dreading.
    But he’s not there.
    Firelight
    6
    I hide during lunch. Cowardly, I know, but when I faced the double doors leading to the cafeteria, the volume alone made me feel sick. I couldn’t bear the thought of going in.
    Instead, I walk the halls, ignoring my hungry stomach and the guilt I feel at not being there for Tamra. But somehow, I know she’ll be fine. At least I convince myself of this. She’s been waiting for this day since we were kids. Ever since I manifested and she didn’t. When Cassian began to ignore her and became a dream forever beyond her reach.
    I find the library. Immediately, I inhale musty books and savor the silence. I slide into a table near the windows that faces the quad and rest my head on the cool Formica until the bell rings.
    I float through the rest of the day. Relief seizes me when I make it to the last class of the day. Almost done.
    My seventh-period study hall is packed with people who either opt out of athletics or lack the requi-site GPA to play sports. This I learn from Nathan, my shadow ever since fifth period.
    He slides in beside me. His fleshy lips spit out each word with a faint spray of saliva. “So, Jacinda.
    What are you?”
    I blink, inching back, before I understand. Of course. He couldn’t mean that. “Uh, I don’t know.”
    “Me?” He juts a thumb to his swelled chest. “I can’t pass English. Which is too bad, because our football team might actually win a game if I was on the line. What about you?” His gaze travels my long legs. “What are you doing in study hall? You look like you could play basketball. We got a good girls team.”
    I tuck a wild strand of hair behind my ear. It springs loose again and falls back in my face. “I didn’t want to join any teams midsemester.” Or ever.
    The room is comprised of several black-topped tables. Mr. Henke, the physics teacher, stands behind a larger version of our table at the front of the room. He stares out at the class with a dazed, bleak expression, as if unclear where the overachievers from the previous period went. “Find something to do. No talking. Study or read quietly, please.” He brandishes an orange pad. “Anyone need a pass to go somewhere? Library?”
    Nathan laughs as half the class lines up for passes. The bell hasn’t even sounded, but it looks like most of the kids will be gone before it does.
    “And there goes the herd.” Nathan looks at me, leans in conspiratorially. “Want to get out of here?
    There’s a Häagen-Dazs not far.”
    “No. My mom is picking me and my sister up after school.”

    “Too bad.” Nathan crowds me. I scoot closer to the edge of the table. His gaze flits over me.
    My elbow knocks over one of my books, and I gratefully hop off the stool to pick it up. Squatting there on the grimy tiles, my hands reaching for a book, the tiny hairs at my nape start to vibrate. My breath goes faster. I press my lips together, trying to quiet the sound. My flesh pulls and tightens with awareness, and I know it’s him before he enters the room.
    I know it. And I want it to be him, even with Tamra’s warning ringing in my head. Wiping a sweaty palm on my jeans, I peer at the door from beneath the table. Recognition burns deep in my chest, but I remain where I am, huddled close to the floor, watching as he steps inside.
    I hold myself still, waiting. Maybe