Zola Flash (The Zola Flash Series Book 1) by T. Marie Alexander Read Free Book Online Page B

affected me, I throw my cup of pea-ku at his head.
    He dodges the cup, and it hits the wall, where it shatters into fractures that fall to the floor.
    I bolt from the kitchen and run to my room, lock myself away from the vindictive Payohlini that attacked rather than protected my heart. Anyone who can pretend as well as he did last night has to be from a cold, dark place. Lucky me, I’m stuck with the one person whose actually from a frozen, obscured planet.
    I curl up into a ball on the floor. I have never cared before what people think of me. Why is Pin’s opinion different?  I could care for him if he let me. Yet, he rejects me.
    Drying my eyes, I check the time, and my eyes widen. I am going to be late for my second day of school. I pull my hair into pigtails and dart past where Pin cleans pea-ku off the kitchen wall before he can see me.
    As soon as I open the door, Trevor pulls me into a hug.

Chapter Fifteen
    I HAD COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN I told Trevor I would give him a chance. I pull back and smile at him. He wraps his arms around my waist and gives me a quick good morning kiss, but I break the kiss. His lips are not Pin’s. Besides, I should not do anything that would make Trevor feel as if I actually care. At least in that way. I cannot fill his head with nonsense when my heart is tearing. There doesn’t need to be two of us with pieces in our hands.
    Trevor steps back and seems to examine me. “Something wrong?”
    “It’s nothing. I didn’t sleep well last night.” It isn’t a complete lie.
    “Well, maybe we can take the day off, go back to my place, and you can relax,” he suggests.
    I nod. A day of relaxation sounds pretty good. It’s been forever since I even heard the word. Relaxation. My planet hasn’t had that in quite some time.
    Trevor wraps his arms around my waist and leads me to the passenger door of a different car to the one he drove yesterday. He watches as I slide into the seat before jogging to the driver’s side. He puts his key in the ignition and swerves away from the curb.
    On the way to Trevor’s house, he stops at a shopping mall in this city. The building is huge. On Victian, probably hundreds of homes could be built on such a site. The exterior is mostly glass, and the sun reflecting off it reminds me of the Ladic Shore, which sparkles like this all the time. The view takes my breath away.
    When Trevor and I enter, I immediately want to back up and leave. There are people everywhere, and I really don’t want to repeat my first day of school. I swear I still have footprints on my back. Trevor pulls me along. So many garments line the pathway. Yeah, this place could seriously home a few of my people. Are all malls like this? If only Cleo could see it . . . She would love this.
    Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a black lace garment, with shiny back rhinestones that resemble the shells of glumunks around the neck. I lurch over to it and check out the price. Why am I even looking? No earth currency. No currency, period. I will never be able to get it.
    Trevor comes over and hauls me away. We go into a store called Smitty. As soon as the employees notice Trevor, they rush to his side, shoving me out of the way.
    “How can we help you, Mr. Smith?” one of the guys asks Trevor, as I step aside.
    Trevor pushes the people aside and catches up with me. “First of all, I don’t appreciate your treatment of my girlfriend. She expects an apology. Second, I need you to dress her. She needs clothes to relax in.”
    Girlfriend? Where did that come from? If I recall, I said friends .
    “Yes, Mr. Smith, and we’re all sorry, Miss . . . ?”
    “Zola. Call me Zola,” I reply in reserved voice.
    “Well, go! Don’t keep us waiting!” Trevor snaps.
    As everyone quickly scrambles to follow Trevor’s orders, he pulls a chair from behind the checkout counter and sits down. Trevor pulls me across his lap and begins nibbling on my ear. I laugh out when he begins kissing me down my neck.