Free Run Like Hell by Elena Andrews

Jack’s hand at the entrance to his classroom and continue down the hall to my own. A chill travels down my spine. Am I being watched? I quickly glance over my shoulder. No one is paying attention to me. Several steps later, the chill returns and I spin around. I catch the gaze of a small kid with glasses. He looks away and disappears around a corner. There’s no time to follow him as the bell rings and I step into my classroom.
     
    By the time lunch rolls around my stomach is loudly grumbling. The waffles I’d eaten at the bus stop held me over until an hour ago. I’d love a large order of fries and a burger but I join Traci in line at the salad bar and load up on chick peas, cherry tomatoes, and sliced turkey.
     
    Traci confides that Carlos kissed her under the stairway after second period. It was their first kiss. Her eyes are dreamy and she holds up the line for a few minutes while she describes how wonderful he smelled. She laughs as she admits she had to tilt her head all the way back to kiss him because he’s so tall.
     
    We set our trays down at our usual table in the cafeteria. Before I sit, Carlos appears beside her.
     
    “Mind if I sit with you two?” His grin is disarming and we nod our heads mutely.
     
    Traci pulls out the chair beside her and indicates for Carlos to sit down. Jack joins us soon after, carrying a tray with a turkey sandwich, an orange, and small bag of chips. I steal a few of his chips while we discuss the game this evening.
     
    “Maybe we can all hang out after the game,” Carlos suggests.
     
    Jack and I exchange a glance.
     
    “Morgan and I have something planned tonight but we can probably hang out over the weekend,” Jack explains between bites of his sandwich.
     
    Traci raises an eyebrow at me but I ignore her and pop a cherry tomato in my mouth.
     
    “Well, then I’ll have Traci all to myself tonight,” Carlos teases, grabbing Traci’s hand affectionately. “Are you free tonight?”
     
    “Not anymore,” she laughs and runs her hand along his shoulders.
     
    Carlos is incredibly good looking with buzzed dark hair, thick eyelashes, dark eyes, and his build is tall, lean and muscular. He resembles Jack but his complexion is darker, he’s several inches taller and his upper-body is more muscular than Jack’s. And, as Traci likes to remind me, he’s a senior. I think she’s already planning her dress in anticipation of going to the prom with him next month.
     
    The guys finish eating and then join their teammates at another table. Traci and I scoot our chairs closer together after they leave so we can talk privately.
     
    “So, what do you think?” Her long black hair cascades down her shoulders. “Isn’t he great? He’s so sweet and nice.”
     
    “I’m happy for you,” I tell her as I lean in and hug her, happy to have the old fun-loving Traci back. Tonight will be fun rooting for the guys at their game.
     
    Her greenish-yellow eyes sparkle as she continues to discuss Carlos and the sexy way he pulled her aside and into his arms earlier.
     
    After lunch we walk outside and Traci points to the large tree in the front of the school. A lone boy is seated beneath the tree with his back resting against it, a book propped against his bent legs. “Morgan, do you know him? He was staring at you in the cafeteria. I meant to tell you earlier.”
     
    He’s not recognizable. As if he senses my stare, he glances from the pages in front of him and looks directly at me. Do I know him from somewhere? I can’t place his name or face but he seems familiar.
     
    Traci spies several of our friends and ushers me over to them. I forget all about the boy beneath the tree. As the day progresses, talk of Chelsea’s party continues and the stories become increasingly ridiculous. For instance, one guy says Trent Wren, the lead singer of a popular band called Dirty, was there. A girl in my biology class insists she made out with Billy Worthington, a Hollywood actor. I know