MILA Origins 2.0 - The Fire by Debra Driza Read Free Book Online Page A

stuff him into my backpack and hide him away.
    “Want to trade cell numbers? Just to talk and stuff,” he said.
    I ducked my head before he could see my smile widen into an obnoxiously goofy grin. I gave him my number as Ipulled my phone out of my bag. “What’s yours?”
    My hands vibrated two seconds later.
    Our gazes locked while I pushed send and lifted the phone to my mouth. “Hello?”
    “Now you’ve got it,” Hunter said. In stereo. He ended the call, tilting his head as he studied my phone. “A Samsung ie80? They still make those? No surfing for you, huh?”
    I sighed, glaring at my phone. “No. My mom’s sort of anti-internet. Anti-computers, really. She won’t even let me get a laptop.”
    He looked startled; the same look everyone gave when they found out Mom chose to shun modern technology. One girl had even asked if I was Amish. “Parents” was all he finally said, though. With a knowing smile.
    We headed back up the path leading back into school, side by side.
    “What class do you have next?” he said, just before we reached the door.
    “Pre-calc. You?”
    “AP Chemistry.”
    See that? Not even remotely dim. “Cool.”
    When we reached the door, he leaned across me to open it. The brush of his arm across my shoulder sent a shiver rushing through me. I stepped into the congested hallway and fumbled to put a name to the strange feeling, just as a familiar voice rang out.
    “Hey, Mila, there you are! And…you ran into Hunter ?”
    Kaylee stood a few feet away, arms crossed over her chest, forming a platform-heeled, long-legged obstacle that students veered to avoid hitting. Her emphasis on “ran into” wasn’t lost on me, even in the din of chattering voices and footsteps as kids rushed to their next class.
    Her gaze touched on me, lingered longer on Hunter and even longer on the cell phones we still clutched in our hands. I shoved mine into my bag, even though I wasn’t sure why, exactly. I hadn’t done anything wrong.
    She stepped closer, her grin flashing fewer teeth than usual. “So what were you guys doing out there? Was Mila helping you fill out your forms?”
    Hunter shrugged and shook his hair out of his face. “Something like that,” he said. And then he winked at me before merging into the flow of students and ambling down the hallway.
    Kaylee pressed a hand to her chest and watched his retreat. “Mysterious guys are so hot.”
    But the second he was out of sight, her playfulness vanished. She whirled on me with her hands on her hips. “Is that why you ditched us at lunch today, so you could get Hunter all to yourself? What, are you some kind of stalker now? Oh my god, Mila, that is so uncool!”
    Red blotches erupted on her cheeks, and her voice rose with each question, loud enough to garner sideways looksfrom the kids passing by. Two girls from our homeroom started whispering, while a trio of boys poked one another and laughed.
    “Shhhh!” I said.
    “What, am I embarrassing you?” she said in an even louder voice. “About HUNTER?”
    More kids turned to look, triggering that trapped feeling again. My muscles tensed. I wanted out of the public eye. Now.
    In a quick movement hidden by the position of her body, I grabbed Kaylee’s upper arm. Then I pulled her to the door and yanked it open. My momentum propelled both of us outside, away from the streaming students and their way-too-curious eyes.
    “Mila, you’re hurting me!” Kaylee tugged against my grip.
    With dawning horror, I looked down to see I was squeezing her upper arm. I released my grip, and her other hand immediately rubbed the spot. “What’s your deal?” she said, her stare all brown-eyed accusation.
    I shook my head, dazed, gaping at the way she cradled her arm to her chest. Seriously, what was my deal?
    I couldn’t believe I’d just grabbed Kaylee like that, out of nowhere. What a terrible thing to do.
    “Kaylee, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. There were all those people, and I