Time Bomb by Joelle Charbonneau

Author:Joelle Charbonneau
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Diana

— Chapter 33 —

DIANA WASN’T SURE how to feel about Frankie’s appearance. He was shirtless, and his tanned chest was covered with sweat and dust, a change from the last time they’d seen each other.

Two dates. He didn’t show for the third, and he never bothered to tell her why. She refused to ask and instead took it as a sign. Now he was here, and the horror on Z’s face made it clear how he felt about seeing the star quarterback.

“It’s you.” Z glanced behind Frankie as if hoping for someone else to appear.

And someone did.

Her face looked almost gray next to her dark frizzy hair. Her eyes were wide and glassy. Dirt and blood smeared the girl’s face and neck. It looked as if she had one arm wrapped in a dirty sling.

“I can tell I’m not exactly who you were hoping to see,” Frankie said, looking at Diana. His eyes flicked up at the hole in the ceiling and then swept over the massive metal air conditioner wedged into the floor. Frankie went completely still and the cocky smile he always seemed to be wearing disappeared as he spotted Kaitlin under it.

“Oh, God,” the girl with the bandaged arm said. “Is she dead?”

“Not yet,” Kaitlin answered for herself.

“Not at all.” Z knelt down next to her. “Once the firefighters decide to do their job, we’ll get you out of here.”

“What are you talking about?” Frankie asked.

“Look outside.” Z pointed toward the window he’d shattered. “The firefighters and police and everyone are just waiting around out there for the building to collapse. They aren’t doing anything.”

“That makes no sense,” said the girl with the sling as Frankie hopped over a desk and followed Z to the window. While Frankie yelled and waved at the people below—because clearly he believed she and Z must not have done it right in the first place—the new girl asked, “What are they waiting for? An invitation?”

“Little Miss Princess here gave them one. She seemed to think they’d trip over themselves to help if they knew she was in the building.” Z sneered. “Must sting to know they care just as little about you as they do about the rest of us.”

It would if it were true.

“I guarantee you that dozens of politicians are on the phone right now demanding action and threatening anyone who will listen with hearings and investigations to make something happen.”

“And yet nothing’s happening,” Z said, kneeling down next to Kaitlin, who had started to cough. “Kaitlin needs help now.”

“And I told you, they must think there are more bombs,” Diana said. She walked to the window. “Look at how far back everyone is standing.” She took her phone out of her pocket and said, “I don’t have cell service. Does anyone else?”

Frankie pulled his out and frowned. “You think they turned it off?”

“But that would mean they don’t want us to be able to use our phones to call for help. They wouldn’t do that,” said the new girl Diana had almost forgotten about.

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