Free Sia by Josh Grayson Page A

bad about how he behaved that day?
    “ Who’s that?” I whisper to Amber.
    The boy slings his pack over his shoulder and works his way up the aisle. Amber glances at him and shrugs. “Kyle Parker. He's just some loser. And he always smells like . . . ” She wrinkles her nose. “Bread.”
    He doesn’t look like a loser to me. No, he isn’t wearing designer clothes, and his old backpack is patched with pictures of comic book heroes. But he seems normal enough. Who is he? Why was he so mean to me? From Amber’s description, we obviously don’t hang around in the same circles, so it makes no sense for him to hold anything against me.
    When he reaches the front of the room where Amber and I are still standing with a few other girls, he hesitates. He looks like he wants to say something, but Amber rolls her eyes and drags me away.
    “ Come on, Sia. Algebra’s next, and we all soooo love algebra, don’t we?”
    The other girls giggle, then follow us into the hallway. Amber hooks her arm through mine, and Stacy does the same on my other side. We stride purposefully down the corridor as if we’re modeling on a catwalk. It’s a ridiculous feeling. I try to untangle myself, but I’m anchored between the girls. I feel a rush of relief when we arrive and the girls are forced to let go.
    As soon as I step into the room, Duke is there beside me. He looks extremely handsome, with his hair styled expertly, his clothes the peak of fashion. The guy radiates masculinity, and I have to put in some effort not to stare.
    “ Hey, babe. You look hot. Everyone treating you good?” he asks.
    I nod and can’t help smirking. “Yeah. Amber had, uh, a heartful talk with our class about that.”
    “ That’s our Amber,” Duke says with a chuckle.
    A couple of other guys, football players from the size of them, come in behind me. “Hey, Sia,” they say as they walk past. “Good to see you.”
    Duke’s arm is instantly around me and I’m squeezed tight against his side. He kisses me with gusto, which takes me by surprise.
    What’s with the sudden macho display? I push my hand against his chest, needing air, and scowl up at him. “Didn’t you tell me you’d give me all the time I need?” I hiss, then turn and smile vaguely at the others. “Hey,” I say to them.
    When the bell rings at the end of algebra, it’s time for lunch. The class packs up and gets out fast. Most of the students quickly flood out into the wide hallway, making out by the lockers, slamming their locker doors, or hurrying toward the cafeteria for lunch.
    The cafeteria reeks of fried food and chicken soup, a smell that transports me back to my time with Carol. I look up at Duke, wondering how he’d react if I told him about my time on the street. I so want to share my story with someone, but he misinterprets my expression.
    “ Don’t worry, babe. You’ll be fine. Come on. Let’s get lunch.”
    I scan the counter, looking over all the choices, and decide on a burger with fries. I smile at the heavyset, middle-aged woman behind the counter. Her eyes carry the look of someone who is constantly worn out. “Thanks,” I say.
    The woman frowns at me.
    Kind of a weird reaction . . . but everything’s weird lately. I have to try not to be too paranoid.
    After paying for the meal, I turn to find my friends. Stacy’s standing by a table in the center of the room, and she excitedly waves me over.
    “ Excuse me,” I murmur, cutting between tables. Some of the people I pass glance up with angry glares. I look away quickly. What had I done to make them angry?
    Two seats are left open between Stacy and Amber. Duke pulls out one for me and sits beside me on the other.
    “ So?” Stacy asks. “What do you think? How does it feel to be back?”
    “ I don’t really know,” I admit. “Weird.”
    “ What is that? ” Amber demands, staring at my tray.
    I jerk upright, scared there’s a spider or something. But it’s just my lunch. “What?”
    Amber points at