Free Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan Page A

was my problem?
    At lunch I avoided May and ate in the lunch room, knowing she would never go in there. I really liked May, but I needed things to return to the way they were.
    Matt sat a few tables over. Apparently he’d found others to join his book club. Two girls sat next to him hanging on his every word. No surprises there. A guy as cute as him and who could actually understand Shakespeare could have his pick. Maybe down the road I could join a club and be part of social gatherings like this. College perhaps.
    After lunch, Christian finally caught up to me in the hallway. “How’s it going?”
    “Good. You?” I kept my face forward.
    “Good. Do you mind if I come to tryouts again today?”
    “Actually, I’d prefer it if you didn’t.”
    “Really? Um, okay. Can I see you afterward?”
    I opened my locker. “I think my uncle has something planned.”
    He didn’t say anything while I switched out my books, but when I closed my locker, he asked, “Did you go running last night?”
    “No, which turned out to be good because of the storm and all.”
    “What storm?”
    “Last night. The sky was pitch black and the wind was going crazy. It was kind of scary.”
    “There wasn’t a storm last night. What time?” His body tensed.
    “Not sure. I woke up to the sound of a cat howling like it was in heat or something. It was really weird.”
    “And you didn’t go outside?”
    “No.”
    “Don’t go out tonight either, okay?”
    “Why?”
    “Just don’t, please?”
    I sighed. “Look, I appreciate the concern, but if I want to go running in the dark, I will. I’m a big girl.”
    Suddenly he grabbed me by the arms, a little too rough in my opinion. “You can’t go outside.”
    I shrugged him off. “Let go. What’s your deal?” I hurried away, surprised by his sudden aggressive behavior.
    The second day of basketball tryouts went as expected. I completely wowed Ms. Lindsey and gained the respect of all my potential teammates, for the time being anyway.
    After tryouts, I raced home, anxious to see Jake.
    “Did you make the team?” Jake asked, the moment I walked through the doorway. He was standing in the kitchen wearing an apron, and I noticed he’d shaved and gotten a haircut.
    “What are you doing?” I asked.
    “Making cookies.” He turned on the oven light and peeked in.
    “Since when do you bake?” I tossed my backpack onto the couch.
    “I used to make them all the time, don’t you remember?”
    “Vaguely. But why are you making them now?”
    “To celebrate. Did you make the team?” Jake poured me a glass of milk.
    “I won’t know until tomorrow. I guess we’ll have to save them until then.”
    “Actually,” Jake paused. “They’re for my celebration.”
    “Does this have anything to do with where you’ve been yesterday and today?”
    “Yes, but before I tell you any more, I need to apologize again.”
    “No, Jake. I need to apologize.”
    “Would you stop? You were right about everything. Ever since Mark, I mean your dad, died, I’ve been living in a fortress of solitude. Your dad, well, he was special, more so than even you know. After your mom died, we went through some crazy stuff together, and I think that kind of messed me up too. I thought I could be like him, but I’m not.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    He shook his head. “I promised your dad I’d take care of you, but how can I do that? I’m not him.”
    “Jake, I couldn’t ask for a better second dad.” I placed my hand over his and mentally transferred Light to him. I hated seeing him like this.
    He jerked his hand away. “When did you start doing that?” he asked, almost as if he were appalled.
    “Huh?”
    “You’re transferring Light to me. When did you learn to do that?”
    I shrugged. “Just the other day, I guess. Why? What’s wrong?”
    “Your mother. She used to do the same thing whenever I felt bad. I can’t believe you can do it too.”
    “But can’t all Aura’s at a certain