Free Manipulation (Shadows) by Jolene Perry Page B

things about me that Jeremy must have corroborated, though I can’t imagine why. Anyway, I’ve put in petition after petition to have contact and they’ve all been denied.” Why am I telling her this?
    “So, you hack computers, break into offices…” The corner of her mouth pulls up.
    “It’s not quite that dramatic.” Wow. I sound kinda cool. “But something like that, yes.”
    “I don’t think we’re all that different.” Even the corners of her eyes wrinkle from her smile. I continue to study her face like I do when I’m drawing someone.
    “Is that so?”
    “Well,” she sighs. “We’re both soaked, for one.”
    I laugh again. Shit. I cannot fall for this girl. Cannot .
    “If my sister was taken from me? I’d do whatever I could to get her back and that would be the reason I’m in the class, instead of…” Her eyebrows pull together and she stares down at the table.
    I’d bet money my first guess was the right one. “Making train tickets to see…”
    “Someone that I maybe shouldn’t have bothered with.” She takes another drink and stares out the window again. I wonder if she sees anything because she suddenly looks lost.
    “I’m sorry, Addie.” Was that the right thing to say?
    “Oh.” She lets this cute little puff of air out her nose. “Don’t be. It’s probably just some silly thing, right?”
    “How long?”
    She looks down.
    And because I’ve somehow turned into a stalker of Addie, and even though I know I shouldn’t, I tap my shoe against hers. How long?
    “Two years.” Her eyes flash to mine. “Don’t do that. I need someone I can trust. I guess we now have our answer if I can stop you or not.” Her voice is full of hurt, and now I feel like shit for making her tell me.
    “I’m not…” I shake my head. When did I turn into such an asshole? I really shouldn’t have done that. It’s just years of being able to get people to tell me things I want to know has formed a kind of habit.
    “You’re a good guy, even though you keep pumping me for information.” Her eyes immediately go to the window again. I want to see them, to watch her watching me. Not watch her blindly looking out the window.
    Next time I do something with her, I’m putting us in the corner. Next time. I need to have Katy give me a good slap over this.
    “Well, I have a friend that’ll be waiting for me, and you have a sister who will be waiting for you. Wanna get together tomorrow?” Did I just go way too far?
    She gives me a faint smile. “Sure. I’ll meet you here? At like four?”
    “You want to come all this way?”
    “How do you know I don’t live around the corner?”
    “Because I do.” It’s out. She knows I live in the part of town with all the oddball theater people and rock n’roll stores.
    Her grin spreads. “Thanks, Dean. See you tomorrow.”
    “And Addie, I’m sorry.” I shake my head.
    “Don’t worry about it. I made you tell me about Jeremy the day we met, so I figure we’re even. Guess you weren’t expecting it then.”
    “No. I definitely wasn’t.” Now’s when I should walk her home or pay for her cab, but I can’t pay for her cab. “How will you get home?”
    “I’ll get a cab. Dad hates them, but I don’t mind them much, except for the seats.” She gives an involuntary shudder, and I wonder how far her hand sanitizer habit reaches.
    “Take my jacket. It’s a little wet, but it’ll keep you off the seat. You can give it back tomorrow. I’d hate for your jeans to end up in the trash.” I laugh.
    “How do you know I—”
    She’s serious.
    “Are you kidding me? Have you thrown away clothes just because of where they’ve been ?”
    Her eyes widen. “Well! That chair in the police station was gross! It gave me the creeps.”
    “The girl who throws away jeans because she’s a germ-a-phob. See you, Addie.” I smirk.
    “See you, Dean. The Boy who cringes when people make too much noise with their feet.” She scrapes her shoe on the floor as