Sick by Tom Leveen

Author:Tom Leveen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Amulet Books
Published: 2013-09-11T04:00:00+00:00

JOHN’S OUT THERE WAITING AS SOON AS JAIME opens the door.

“Hey, what were you guys—”

I throw a palm into the sophomore’s chest, sending him backward. The crowd, which has gathered around the door, backs up. John scowls at me, and I stare him in the eye until he looks away.

“Listen up,” Jaime says. “Here’s the deal. One, remember the phone is dead in here. So don’t anybody go stepping all over anyone to get to it. You want to see for yourself, fine, but believe me, if it was working, we’d be in there talking on it. Get it?”

Nervous nods. John rubs his chest, making a pissy face at me.

“Number two, we’re talking about trying to get out of here,” Jaime goes on. “But it’s going to take some time and patience. What I need all of you to do is chill out. Just try your best to relax, and don’t do anything stupid. Those things are still out there, so just sit tight. When we have a plan, we’ll tell you.”

“Who put you in charge?” John says, but stays back where I had pushed him.

Chad stalks up to John, who cowers.

“I did,” Chad grunts in his face. “You got somethin’ you wanna say about it, cold sore?”

I blink in shock. It’s the last thing I would’ve expected Chad to say. Not the cold sore thing, but about Jaime being in charge.

“N-n-no,” John says.

Chad nods, and turns back to Jaime, folding his arms over his chest. “G’head.”

Jaime’s mouth twitches into a grin, but it’s gone as quick as it came. “Kat made a good point a minute ago,” he says to everyone. “We’re not in the middle of nowhere. We’re in the sixth-largest city in the country. Somebody’s going to come for us eventually. Brian’s mom is telling someone we’re here, and she’s a cop.”

Not exactly true, but I don’t bother correcting him.

“The best thing we can do is wait for them, just like if we were lost somewhere.”

That runs exactly counter to what Jaime said in the office, but I don’t point it out. Right now, it’s probably more important to get these kids to settle down than to let them in on our plan.

Whatever that plan is. That’s when I realize why Chad backed up Jaime’s authority: the sooner we get everyone settled down, the sooner we can figure out how to get the hell out of here.

“Meanwhile,” Jaime says, wrapping up, “just be cool. All right? We’ll be in the scene shop.”

A dozen voices protest.

“John,” Jaime adds over the noise, “you’re in charge out here. Keep everyone cool. Get me?”

John’s face gets serious and he nods his head. “I’m on it,” he says.

My respect for Jaime Escadero skyrockets. It’s a brilliant move, and John buys into it instantly because he’s too stupid not to. Now not only will someone work at keeping everybody calm, but it’ll keep John out of our way. Plus I see Jaime give Dave a clandestine nod as if to say, Make sure he doesn’t screw it up.

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