Free Transparent by Natalie Whipple Page A

pretty useless gift, but in our family I consider that lucky for Miles. Dad hardly notices him, just remembers his ability is worthless. He made sure Miles knew that, too. I could never quite tell if it actually hurt Miles, but he’s definitely no fan of Dad.
    “I’d hug you, but I can smell you from here,” he says.
    “Thanks a lot.” I shut the door, but stay where I am. “I’m surprised you’re still here.”
    “I told you Graham wants to help us!” Mom’s glare feels like a laser. “How could you run off like that? We thought you were dead! You can’t just disappear on me!”
    I scoff. “That’s kind of hard to avoid, don’t you think?”
    “Don’t use that attitude with me, Fiona Claire. I am trying to get us out, and every time you run off you risk ev—”
    Miles puts his hand on her knee. “Mom, not exactly helping.”
    “I was just so … You shouldn’t have done that.” Her shoulders slump, and I stuff down the guilt. Let her be mad at me—I’m plenty mad at her for calling Graham. She deserves any worry I might have caused her.
    I put my hands on my hips. “Is he waiting for me to show up?”
    She purses her lips. “Graham is covering for us. He’s making up fake leads, sending your father on a goose chase so we can live here in peace.”
    My jaw drops. “You’re kidding.” I look to Miles. “You can’t actually believe this.”
    He shrugs. “I don’t know, Fi. He seemed genuine. He didn’t bring a team or even a phone. It’s … possible.”
    “Possible?” This isn’t happening. My family cannot be this stupid. After years of lies and manipulation, how can they not see through this? People don’t change. Graham couldn’t have woken up one day and decided he was going to be a good person again. “I need a shower.”
    “Hey, wait!” Miles calls, but I rush to my bathroom and lock the door.
    I smell too awful to think clearly. So I pull off my clothes and let the warm water run over me until it gets cold, though it doesn’t get
that
cold. Desert water only feels cool. I watch the water bead on my skin, try to hold perfectly still so I can see pieces of my fingers and arms. It’s strangely beautiful, like dew on a spider web that reveals the shape.
    My mind is surprisingly blank in comparison to the questions that pounded me before. I keep thinking about how thirsty I am, how much I want to sleep in my bed instead of on dusty plywood, how I should savor every day of freedom I have left.
    When I shut the water off, Miles’s voice comes from the hall. “You better wear something I can see you in. No shorts or stupid dresses.”
    “Fine.” For some reason his joking never offends me. He’s trying to tell me being invisible is no big deal, and it works with him. Mom could say the same thing and it’d piss me off. I dig out a pair of black jeans and a tight orange shirt, but then I feel like I’m dressing for Halloween. I slip the jeans off and grab some blue ones. Much better. Now I just have to accessorize… .
    There’s a knock at my door. “Are you decent?” Miles says.
    I laugh. I once asked him why he doesn’t barge in like everyone else does. He said it was awkward enough just thinking of me naked, and he’d prefer not to “see” it. “Yeah, come in.”
    He shuts the door behind him, a small grin on his face.
    “See enough of me?” I ask.
    “Never enough.” He holds out his hands, and I rush into him. His arms come around me firmly, and for a second I feel safe. Miles’s hugs always remind me how nice it is to be touched. “I’d go with your blue glasses. I always liked those.”
    I pull back, knowing he’s trying to lighten the mood. But I can’t let this one slide. “Why would Graham cover for us? He’s never done it before—he has to be up to something.”
    Miles lets out a long sigh as he sinks onto my bed. “I don’t know right now, Fi, but I’m gonna try and find out.”
    “Why did you believe him?”
    He watches me put on my glasses,