Free Vanquished by Katie Clark Page B

obvious her mom isn’t very happy with the relationship. How’s she going to take it when she finds out what’s been happening between them?
    “We’re going to hang out,” Jamie says. “Hana will be with us.”
    Her mom glances between the two of us. Finally, she sighs. “He can’t stay long, do you understand?”
    Jamie nods. “OK, Mom.”
    She goes back inside the house.
    My head spins. “Have you told him yet?”
    Jamie shakes her head. “No. I was going to tell him today.”
    Panic chokes me. “What?”
    “Please, Hana? I can’t do it alone.”
    I shake my head, trying to get the cobwebs dislodged. “Fine. Tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll do it.”
     
     
     
     

15
     
    Questions play through my mind. What if Easton doesn’t support her? What if he does? Will they get married? Live in some Lesser apartment in the housing developments? Will Jamie have to get one of the Lesser-approved jobs, like cleaning the streets? Will they have to lock all their doors at night to keep other Lessers from breaking in and stealing from them or killing them in their sleep?
    I’ve always wanted to help the Lessers, to promote their ability to do good. But now? Faced with the possibility of my best friend being one of them, I’m terrified by the thought of them. Everything I’ve been taught comes rushing back to me. Drugs, alcohol, crime. How will Jamie survive in such a terrible life? Will my career in Middle government include helping my best friend? I feel weak and old, like I can’t bear to carry even the skin that’s on my bones. I can’t take any more surprises in my life.
    We round the house and Easton sits in the grass against a tree. Jamie’s backyard looks exactly like mine, and every other yard on our street—a small square of grass enclosed by a rickety, old fence.
    Easton smiles when he sees us and shoots to his feet. “Hi,” he says to Jamie alone.
    Smitten is the word that comes to mind.
    She smiles back, tucking her long brown hair behind her ear. “Hi.”
    We stand in an awkward huddle for a second, but Jamie breaks the ice by sitting beside the tree. “How’s your afternoon been?” she asks.
    As if she didn’t just see him at school two hours ago.
    Easton shrugs easily. “Fine. I helped my dad at the market until I came here. What about you?”
    Jamie glances at me and then looks back to Easton. “It’s been good. We went shopping.”
    He grins wider. “Yeah, girls like shopping.”
    He’s such a dork. I don’t see what Jamie sees in him at all. The whole backyard seems to be emitting discomfort. Ten feet away is the comfort of my own backyard. How terrible would it be if I just got up and sat in my own grass?
    “Did you buy anything?” he asks.
    “No, but Hana got some books and soap.”
    He nods.
    I wonder if this is what all of their time together has been like, but then I think of Jamie’s news, and my cheeks burn. Why doesn’t she just get it over with?
    “Your dad’s the dean of the agricultural school, right?” His bug eyes turn on me.
    “Yep.”
    “My dad says that when they were in school together your dad could make anything grow. He said they called it a green thumb. My dad says I might be the next dean!”
    My dad? I’ve never thought of him being someone’s hero before. It’s a funny thought. “I guess he is pretty good at growing things.”
    “After we Test, I guess I’ll get to know him better, huh?”
    His carefree words are almost too heavy to handle, but since Jamie hasn’t told him the truth yet, I’m not sure how to respond. “Right, because you want to do agriculture.”
    Jamie shifts in the grass, groaning a little. “Do we have to talk about the Test? Who really cares about it anyway?”
    Easton’s eyebrows shoot up. He is obviously confused—everyone cares about the Test.
    If the situation wasn’t so serious, I might think it was kind of funny. Smitten boy confused by pretty girl.
    “Sure, we don’t have to talk about it,”