Free Billow by Emma Raveling Page B

electrified by his closeness. Without a word, I turned and walked back to the steps carved into the cliff.
    I needed to make it there before the wall broke.
    Before I added another mistake to the ones already haunting my life.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    EIGHT
     
    Monday was hell.
    Another night of fitful sleep and acrobatics. I slept through my alarm and woke when my left wrist whacked against the windowsill.
    Worry, irritation, and the throbbing pain made for a lousy morning. To top it all off, Ms. Roux kept me after history class and chewed me out over another dismal test grade.
    Being late for lunch couldn't have happened on a worse day.
    The cafeteria was packed. A different type of murmuring buzzed through the air.
    And I knew the reason why.
    The source sat at our table in the far corner. Relieved, I spotted Aubrey next to the familiar head of long, dark hair. I'd shared the news with the girls, Cam, and Alex in first period so they wouldn't inadvertently blow his cover.
    Jeeves called this morning, informing me that Ian would have lunch at the Academy today. Word of a visitor at the Governing House had inevitably spread through Haverleau.
    My grandmother's official statement presented Ian as the son of a dignitary from the New York ondine community. He was considered the Governor's guest of honor.
    Sending Ian to the Academy accomplished two things. First, it added validity to Rhian's explanation. Since Ian was our age, it'd be strange if his official visit didn't include a short stop to check out the school's facilities.
    Second, it gave Redavi kids a chance to gawk and stare before sharing the news with their gossip-thirsty families. Hopefully, their curiosity over the mysterious guest would be satisfied.
    Two Royal Gardinels lounged near the back entrance. They looked like the ones that normally accompanied any dignitary. A few school chevaliers walked by, but didn't look twice at the new guy.
    I let out a small sigh of relief. No one seemed to suspect anything.
    I grabbed the usual assortment of disgusting food and headed over. Aubrey's flawless skin suffused with pleasure and her head tilted back in a laugh. A wide smile brightened Ian's normally somber expression.
    "So you decided to bring down their servers?" Admiration tinted his voice. "That was some piece of work. Forums couldn't stop talking about it for months."
    "That was nothing." Emerald eyes glowed. "What about the stunt you pulled with that big pharmaceutical?"
    Ian gave a shy grin. His hair was brushed a little neater today as if he'd actually made an effort. "That was okay. I'd do it differently next time."
    Aubrey was a killer with technology and had a razor-sharp intellect that allowed her to navigate everything at turbo-speed. I'd almost forgotten Ian was also good at tech stuff. Now that I knew he was a nix, it made a lot of sense.
    He even tried to get me into it back in freshman year. But my eyes had glazed over in boredom whenever he brought up networks and protocols.
    I settled across from them. "Guess I don't need to bother with introductions."
    "We've known each other for a few years," Ian said casually.
    I dropped my fork. "What?"
    "By different names, of course." Aubrey pointed at herself. "Redgrrl."
    Mild embarrassment flitted across his face. "Neo."
    I covered up my laughter with a fit of coughing. Of course, he'd use the name of his hero.
    "We've been trying to one-up each other online for a while." Lips curved and her lashes slightly lowered. "It's nice to meet in person."
    A slight flush crept up Ian's cheeks.
    Holy crap. She was flirting with him.
    "Didn't expect to meet the legendary Redgrrl here," he mumbled. The chunk of meat the cafeteria called a hamburger suddenly seemed fascinating to him.
    Ian wasn't Casanova. He'd once told me it was easier to be his true self online than in real life. His odd clothes and eccentric interests didn't exactly do wonders for his high school social