Outcast by Adrienne Kress Read Free Book Online Page A

was gone. She’d probably gone to get her hair done. It made her feel better to do something like that when Daddy left. Distracted her. It was good to know she’d be gone for a couple hours. I wouldn’t be as paranoid going to talk to Gabe.
    “Hey, sweetheart.” It was the first thing he always said after I took the gag out of his mouth.
    “I brought some cereal.”
    “My favourite part of the day. The part when you feed me.” The same joke. Except a little more resentful now. Still I gave him a few mouthfuls and he took a swig of water obediently.
    “You had enough? You need to…go?” It was probably the most embarrassing part about having a prisoner, taking Gabe round back of the shed, holding onto the rope like he was a dog. It was the most risky thing too, worrying if someone would see, if he’d try to escape. But he never did. Why didn’t he? What was he playing at?
    But Gabe just shook his head, and I was relieved. I really wanted to just blurt it all out, everything I’d discovered, but I wasn’t sure how he’d take it. If he’d even believe me. That’s why I’d also brought today’s newspaper with the date, my yearbook from when I was a freshman, and a laptop, all still hidden in the bag in the corner. I thought he’d think the laptop was pretty cool. Well, at least I would have, if I’d come from the past.
    I didn’t know where to start so I just did what I always did, said exactly what was on my mind. “You think it’s 1956, don’t you?”
    He gave me that look he always gave me when he thought I was nuts.
    “’Course I do. Why.” He didn’t say “why” like a question. It was almost like a threat.
    I took a deep breath and passed him the yearbook, open to his picture. “This you?” I asked him.
    He looked at it. “Yeah.”
    It was him.
    Oh my god.
    “Okay, so here’s the thing then.” I got up and grabbed the bag, returned and sat opposite him. “This is today’s date.” I pulled out the paper and handed it to him.
    Gabe put aside the yearbook, which was tricky, seeing as he still had his hands tied up, and took the newspaper. He stared at it. For a really long time. He looked up at me with that look again, then he grinned.
    “Nice try,” he said tossing it to the side.
    What? “No, seriously it is. I mean, think about it.” I scooted closer toward him, and he raised his eyebrows. “You mentioned Mr. Anders was your principal, you mentioned all these teachers I’d never heard of. And then Mr. Hope. Mr. Hope who came to the school while you were there, but who retired while I’ve been there. All your teachers are there in your yearbook, and all my teachers,” I pulled out my yearbook, “are in mine. Look.”
    I’d marked the page already. He held the book open in his hands and stared. He stared and stared. I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath until he looked up at me, his eyes wide, and said, “Holy shit.”
    “Mr. Hope. He’s way older, but it’s him. It’s totally him. You see it right?”
    Gabe nodded and let the yearbook fall out of his hands.
    “See? You aren’t from this time.”
    Gabe kept staring at me. I suddenly didn’t feel like saying anything anymore, didn’t feel nearly as excited. He looked…well, he looked frightened. No, not frightened. Terrified. And I’d gotten so used to his cocky confidence. All at once I started to feel scared too.
    “I…uh…I brought you this to show you…I thought you might think it’s cool…” I pulled out the laptop and set it up to the side so we could both look at it.
    “What the hell is that?”
    “It’s a computer.”
    “That’s a computer? You’re pulling my leg.”
    “No…I’m not…” I turned it on. As I showed Gabe different features, things like the DVD player and some Photoshop, I glanced at his expression. He was in awe. It also seemed like it all might be a little much for him. Probably good I wasn’t connected to the Internet, that might have been one thing too many for