Free Beautiful Beings by Kailin Gow Page B

shed some light on it.”
    “Oh,” I said, with feigned chagrin. “That’s why you're interested in getting to know me.”
    “No, seriously? You're hot and I don’t need to go looking for excuses for wanting to be with you, but…”
    “But?”
    “These dreams are driving me nuts. They don’t make sense, being about you doesn’t make sense. And now, here you are, like by some cosmic kizbit, design. The real you, with a voice, a funky attitude and a hot bod.”
    I pushed him playfully, and he grinned wider.
    Arriving at my class with minutes to spare, I hugged my book to my chest and leaned my shoulder against the doorjamb.  “Look at us, a couple of rebels, huh.  You're the bad boy everyone’s afraid of and I’m the rough girl with an attitude few dare get close to, but what are we really?  Just a couple of lost kids trying to understand their role in life.  Just trying to get by without getting too hurt.  I bet there are a lot of times we’re a lot more scared than every other kid here.”
    He gazed at the floor a long moment before meeting my gaze. “I guess we’re even more alike than I thought.” With the gentle brush of his finger along my arm, he turned and walked away.
    Staring at his back as he walked away, I inhaled deeply, sensing something so important…a connection of understanding between us.  We were very much alike.
    “Are you coming in or are you going to block the room for the length of the class?” Mr. Monaghan bellowed from behind his desk.
    Everyone snickered and stared as I walked in, the girls with daggers in their eyes, the guys with curiosity and lust. The only friendly face in the room was Braxton, the seat in front of him empty and waiting for me.
    His gaze swept over me, taking in every detail.  “You know, you sure looked hot when you first arrived here with that leather miniskirt and white shirt, but, dang, you know how to rock a school uniform.”
    “Thanks, I think I need a pick me up.”
    “St. James too rough for you?”
    “The homework certainly is.  I don’t think I’ll ever get out from under the mountain of homework I have.”
    “I’m sure it’s not that bad.  Why don’t you let me have a look at where you stand in your classes and I’ll see where I can lend a hand. I share most of your classes anyway, so I know where you should be.”
    I leaned in to take a good whiff at him.
    “What are you doing?” he asked with an unsure chuckle.
    “I smell an ulterior motive.”
    “If your parents are anything like mine were, they sent you here so you’d get the best education you could get.  And remember, my uncle has a vested interest in keeping your father happy.  So if I help you, you get better grades, your parents are pleased and my uncle is happy.  Everyone wins.”
    Surprised by the sense of disappointment that suddenly crowded out all other emotions, I managed to hide my feelings.  We were friends, after all.  There was really no reason for him to have ulterior motives, nor any reason for me to be disappointed.
    “I win too, of course.”
    I could feel the bright and silly grin on my face before I could keep it from getting there.
    “Let’s start tonight,” he whispered as Mr. Monaghan cleared his throat to begin the class.
    By the end of the afternoon I was mentally drained and wondered how much studying I would actually get done.
    “Need a hand hauling the library you call your locker,” Brax said as he came up behind me.
    My locker was a little over-stuffed. “You’d think every teacher thought they were the only one. I got this ten pounder for math and look at this book,” I said as I pulled it out.  “It’s a veritable cinder block. No wonder why kids our age are having back problems.”
    I shoved the cinder block into my back pack and carefully zipped it up, all the while praying the seams didn’t bust. Despite the leather school bag already slung over one shoulder, Braxton quickly reached down to pick it up.
    “You okay