Chasing Helicity Through the Storm by Ginger Zee

Author:Ginger Zee [Zee, Ginger]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Published: 2020-04-21T00:00:00+00:00

She got the answer at school the next day. Hallways, classrooms, even the girls’ restroom—wherever she went, people elbowed one another and exchanged knowing glances when she walked by. They whispered and giggled behind their hands, quieted when she drew near, and whispered again when she moved past. Classmates who had been friendly to her just days before now pretended she didn’t exist. She even caught a teacher narrowing his eyes suspiciously at her.

By afternoon, her jaw ached from clenching her teeth. She dragged her feet on the way to the bus, wishing that Mia was riding home with her instead of going to cross-country practice.

“Hey, Fifteen!” Sam caught up to her by the school doors. He’d returned from his camping trip the evening before and had listened, outraged, about the social media posts from Helicity soon after.

“C’mon.” He guided her away from a group of teens giving her the side eye to the parking lot. “I’ll give you a lift home.”

“Are you sure you dare to be seen with me?” she muttered as she slipped into the seat next to him.

He gave a snort of laughter. “You know, plenty of people here would question why you dare to be seen with me.” When she threw him a questioning look, he shrugged and started the engine. “Not everyone here sees me the way you do, Fifteen. Something I did back in freshman year earned me a reputation that’s still clinging to me like skunk stink.”

“What did you do?”

He made a face. “Pulled the fire alarm to get out of a final exam I hadn’t studied for.”

Helicity’s eyes widened. “Were you expelled?”

“No, but only because it was the end of the school year. The other students were psyched by the interruption until they realized they had to stay late to retake the test.” He gave a rueful smile. “Word of advice: if you want to be popular, don’t prolong the last day of school. Anyway. I failed the exam and the course and had to go to summer school to make up for it.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Three guesses who my teacher was.”

“Wait—Lana?”

Sam nodded.

“I always wondered how you two met. Lana only said it was in school.” She gave a small laugh. “So, my brother was right when he said you were trouble.”

“Andy said that?”

“Yeah, before our storm-chasing trip with Lana and Ray. Told me I should steer clear of you.”

Sam stopped for a red light and turned to look at her. “And yet here you are.”

“Yeah,” she replied, holding his gaze. “Here I am.”

A frisson of energy passed between them. Then the light turned green, the car behind them honked, and Sam turned his attention back to the road. “Another piece of advice, for what it’s worth? Don’t read those social media posts. And don’t answer them. That’ll only make everything drag on longer. Those people bashing Andy will move to the next piece of gossip soon enough. Then things will get better.”

Helicity wasn’t sure Sam was right, but she followed his advice anyway.

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