Free Burn by Addison Moore

out if I wanted.
    “You’re always with him, anyway.” My mother stirs the leftover pancake batter trying to sound impartial.
    “My situation is totally different,” Drake interjects. “I got a job doing paperwork for Brielle’s mom.”
    I glare over at him. We both know damn well the only thing he’ll be doing is Brielle.
    “I’m paying Mom and Dad back for the loan they gave me with interest,” he continues.
    Mom? Since when did he start calling her Mom?
    “You gave him two thousand dollars?” I place my hand over my mother’s in an effort to stop her frantic mixing.
    “We’re lending,” she corrects.
      “I’ll get a job and pay for my own insurance,” I offer. I can feel my heart drop when I say it. If Drake isn’t paying for his own insurance, it doesn’t seem fair that I have to. I don’t ever remember my mother treating me like a second-class citizen before Tad came along.
    “If you can get a job and pay for your own insurance,” my mother starts off hesitantly, exchanging glances with Tad as if asking permission to continue. “I don’t really see the problem.”
    “Still don’t like the idea,” Tad breathes. “The island is not that big—you can catch a ride with friends or Drake to get around. Besides, now that there’s some serial killer on the loose, I don’t know if I want you driving places alone.” Tad flexes the paper in front of him.
    “Serial killer?” I can barely get the words out.
    “They think there’s a link between that kid that died and that girl who was killed before we got here.” Tad casts a sharp look. “You two watch where you’re going. I don’t want to be the one to point out the obvious, but you’re right smack in this lunatic’s demographic.”
     
    Drake’s face smoothes over with fear.
    “I’d better keep Gage around just to be safe.” I give a sly smile in my mother’s direction.
    And I’ll get that car and a job. I’ll gladly spend more time away from this place. I’m sure Logan will be more than happy to employ me.
    “Guess we’re going to have to start locking our doors again.” Tad says before losing himself in an article.
    I wonder what he would think if he knew the raging lunatic, so-called serial killer, were standing within five feet of him.
    “It’s all going to be fine.” My mother wipes her forehead with the back of her hand.
    “I don’t know, Lizbeth .” Tad moves his gaze over to me and grips me in a fixed burning stare. “You never know who they’ll go after next.”
     

Chapter Fifteen   
    Get a Job      
     
    Marshall insists we begin our first tutoring session at four-thirty, right after I finish up with cheer. I know exactly what kind of tutoring goes on in his classroom at four-thirty, ever since I accidentally exposed myself to Michelle Miller’s boobs after walking in on one of his sessions.
    I shake out my umbrella and leave it by the door. I find Marshall hunched at his desk, pouring over his laptop. The glow of the screen is the only light available, so I flick the switch and illuminate the classroom.
    “Ms. Messenger.” He straightens. “You’re punctual—precisely the reason I think you’d make a great employee. Are you willing to reconsider the position?”
    I look around suspiciously wondering why Marshall bothers to act so strange with no one around to entertain.
    “I do need a job, but I’m gunning for something with a little less of you in it.” I head over and slide a chair up beside him. The ad for the equestrian school is displayed on his laptop, complete with the picture of me looking very, well, almost naked with the exception of angel wings while lying on a horse.
    “I’m inviting the community over in a few weeks to celebrate the opening. Fifty pupils have already singed up.” He closes the lid to his laptop. “I stood outside the grocery store with flyers and shook the hand of every mother I could.”    
    “I bet you did.” I pull out my Algebra Two book. “My