Gemini by Sonya Mukherjee

Author:Sonya Mukherjee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

18

Hailey

We all stood there, not looking at one another—me, Clara, Alek. My mind raced every which way, like a tweaking jackrabbit:

• They were just a bunch of Decepticons. Their puny thoughts were insignificant to me.

• Or, they were right about everything; they were just speaking truths I didn’t want to hear.

• Just a week ago, at Max’s house, these assholes had pretended to be all friendly and relaxed, and I’d thought that maybe they weren’t so bad.

• I’d been an idiot.

• They were giving voice to Alek’s secret thoughts.

• But was Alek Max in that scenario, determined not to be a pervert? Or was he Gavin? Two for the price of one.

• Max was the biggest jerk of all.

• Clara liked him, and she couldn’t turn that off in a flash. She couldn’t choose to not care.

• Neither could I.

Alek was standing there, hearing it. What was he thinking?

I should say something to Clara.

Alek should say something to both of us.

What was he thinking?

What was he thinking?

Then Amber appeared out of nowhere, gaping at us. Had she heard everything too? Would she be the one to start saying stuff to make us feel better? She would say all the wrong things. I would have to slap her. I would have to scratch her, and then Clara would have to pull her hair. It would turn into a giant catfight.

I giggled. It came out in a kind of gasp, and I realized that I hadn’t been breathing. Maybe I was getting giggly from the oxygen deprivation.

Everyone stared at me.

I shut up.

Amber turned to Alek. “Sorry,” she said, “but that’s not a costume. You’re outta here.”

“Oh yeah, sorry about that,” he said. “I didn’t have time to find one.”

“No excuses,” she said. “You’ve gotta go.”

He frowned. “You’re not serious.”

She raised her eyebrows.

“Um, Alek,” I said, “Amber doesn’t know the meaning of not being serious.”

“That’s right,” Amber agreed, oblivious to the insult, “and if you don’t get out of here, I’m going to sic the dogs on you.”

We all looked around. Amber didn’t have any dogs.

“Okay,” he said, holding up his hands, “I’m gone.”

He slipped away.

We stood there. I was still reeling, punch-drunk. I didn’t have a grip on the situation. But there was one thing I knew for sure.

“Actually,” I said, “we have to go too. Clara has a headache.”

Behind me I could feel Clara trembling, her breath coming out in short, shallow bursts.

“We told Juanita and Bridget we’d see them here,” I told Amber. “Will you tell them we had to go?”

“Of course. But can I do anything for you?”

I shook my head. “Is there a quick way out of here, without going through the house or the main yard, so we can just get out front and call our dad?”

She frowned at me for a moment, but then nodded. “Sure. Let me show you where the gate is.”

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