Free Switch Master: 6 (Ink and Kink) by Frances Stockton Page B

already got in trouble for trying to earn some cash from
my drawings. I don’t want to get kicked off the premises for good.”
    “Rules are set for a reason. You don’t have to like them,
but you do have to obey them. That doesn’t mean you can’t talk to Emily. Ask
her to help you with your homework or study together.”
    “She is smart,” Luke replied.
    “What classes are your strongest?”
    “Mainly art, computer science and gym. I do okay in history.
English is boring.”
    “What about math and science?”
    “Both suck, just flunked a science test. If Sam’s right about
my future as an artist, why bother with math and science or read Shakespeare?”
    “Shakespeare, which book?” Taran asked rather than debate
why all subjects were important.
    “ Romeo and Juliet , I have to write a paper on it. I
don’t get the ‘Wherefore art thou’ mumbo-jumbo. I mean, come on, the dude’s
right there in front of her.”
    “In the time period, wherefore meant why. Juliet was asking
why Romeo is a Montague, a boy she shouldn’t fall in love with because she’s a
Capulet.”
    Luke waved off Shakespeare. “Whatever, hey, how long have
you been into karate?”
    “Since I was ten, I’ve earned a second degree black belt in
taekwondo and am proficient in jujitsu and recently started kung fu.”
    “Can you teach me how to kick someone’s ass?”
    “If that’s why you want to learn, no.”
    “Why?” Luke frowned, lowering his chin.
    “Martial arts are about discipline, fitness, self-reliance
and defense.”
    “Are they hard to learn?” he asked.
    “Yes. Tell you what. If you make an effort to bring your
grades up, we’ll arrange for you to start learning taekwondo. If you don’t like
it, you can try jujitsu with my older brother or kung fu with my friend Alex
Grant. Sam’s pretty good with judo.”
    “Taekwondo sounds cool,” Luke agreed, bringing his chin back
up. “Maybe it’ll impress Emily.”
    “If you talk to her, I think you’ll find out she’s already
impressed with you.”
    “Can’t ask her out until I can afford it,” he grumbled.
“Even if Aunt Glenda says I can work, she’ll need the money for groceries and
stuff.”
    “Is that why you didn’t eat at home tonight?”
    Luke blanched, sending a quick glance over at Sam. Taran
followed suit. Sam kept looking over at them, the concern on her face obvious.
    She gave him a sign, three fingers. Looked like the pizzas
would be ready in three minutes and stalling at the refreshment counter
wouldn’t be possible for much longer.
    “Sam worries too much about me,” Luke said quietly. “I don’t
like to upset her or burden my aunt.”
    “Do you know what Sam does for a living?”
    “She’s a cop.”
    “That doesn’t bother you?”
    “Nah, she’s not bossy or judgmental.”
    “My brother’s her partner. They find missing persons and
work on cold cases.”
    “She mentioned it, but doesn’t go into too much detail about
cases or anything.”
    “Well, she’s one of the best there is when it comes to
solving cases. Her computer skills put a hacker to shame.”
    “She’s offered to teach me Linux on top of how to use a good
computer graphics program.”
    “Then take her up on it. Sam wants to help you. I want to
make sure you get the legal counsel you deserve. The question is what do you
want me to do?”
    “Thought you said Sam told you. For starters, I don’t want
my old man to get out of prison.”
    “Appeals take a long time. Even then, an appellate court
could reject your father’s case or agree to consider parts of the plea deal he
made with the state. It doesn’t mean he’ll get out anytime soon.”
    “Then my bitch of a stepmom will make me go with her to
visit him.”
    “Watch your language, Luke. If Sam or a court-appointed
supervisor went with you, would you visit your dad?”
    “Rather not. Only reason I heard anything from his attorney
about visiting him in jail is because he wants me to live with Daria.”