Shattered by Sophia Sharp Read Free Book Online Page A

relieved. Then he smiled at her, returning to an image of confidence. “We’d better get going, then, to our next class. I’l see you afterschool?”
    Laura smiled back. “I’l see you there.”

Chapter Seven
    ~Questions~
    When Laura got to her math class afterschool, Logan was already there, waiting for her. He smiled from their usual spot in the back as she walked in. She’d had al day to think about what he showed her earlier. And the more she thought about it, the more amazed she became.
    She racked her brain al day, trying to put some type of logical explanation to what it was. But she couldn’t think of anything. It was il logical, it was supernatural, it was paranormal, it was… magical. It was nothing short of a miracle.
    She wondered how many people knew about his gift. She didn’t think many did. And he must have felt real y bad for what transpired on Thursday, for acting without asking her, to show his ability to her. She felt privileged to have been shown it at al .
    But above al , she was curious. Curious to know more. So despite herself, she rushed to the back of the room as soon as she saw him there, eager to ask him a mil ion questions and more.
    “Hey,” he said as she sat down.
    “Hey,” she replied. Then, looking up to see that Mrs. Mil burn wasn’t paying them much attention, burst out with, “What you showed me today was amazing !”
    “I thought you might like it,” he said slyly.
    “Oh, absolutely! But… can I ask you something?”
    “Sure, go ahead.”
    “The mind thing… can you do it whenever you want? I mean, does it happen whenever someone touches you?”
    “Yes and no,” he laughed. “I have to consciously decide to let people experience that before they make contact. So like, if someone brushes my hand accidental y,” he reached over to slid a finger over Laura’s hand, “nothing happens. But if I want them to experience it, like I did with you earlier today, then I have to decide to let them in, so to speak, at the moment contact happens.”
    “Wow. And did you always know you had that ability?”
    “The truth is, I didn’t always have it. It developed when I was very young, but I wasn’t born with it, I don’t think. Then again, maybe I just can’t remember back far enough. Everything from my childhood is a bit dark, and somewhat blurry. There are not a lot of good memories from there.
    “But you were right. Before I learned to control it, it happened every time somebody touched me, no matter how briefly. Most people just pul ed away, thinking they experienced something like an electric shock…”
    “What about you ? What’s it like, for you, when it happens? Like today, when I held your hand, what did you feel?”
    “Nothing,” he replied simply. “That’s why it took me so long to understand what people experienced when they made contact with me. My earliest memory of it was when I couldn’t figure out why adults were becoming frightened of me. Of course, it was because whenever they touched my skin, they experienced that… flood… of thoughts, barraging through their heads. I can’t imagine what it’s like, personal y. But I’ve been told, and pieced enough things together.”
    “So you’ve shown other people before, then?” A little bit of disappointment blossomed in Laura’s stomach as she said that, and she didn’t real y know why.
    “Not many,” he shook his head. “There was one person, though, who I shared it al with, a long time ago. And they helped me learn to control it, taught me what it real y was.”
    “Wow. Who was that person?”
    “I… can’t tel you. Something happened to them that I stil … can’t… make myself talk about.” He sighed, and his eyes looked sad. “I’m sorry. I know I must be giving you more questions than answers. And I can imagine how overwhelming it must be for you.”
    “No, not at al ,” Laura said. “I didn’t mean to pry.”
    “No, don’t worry about that. You didn’t pry at al .