Free Resistance (The Institute Series Book 2) by Kayla Howarth Page A

before I can put any sort of trust in him.
    “I’m going to go shower,” I say, leaving the table.
    Walking down the hallway, I find the room where the clothes are and search high and low for something I could wear. I find a pair of jeans and a long sleeved black top with a plunging neck line. It must belong to Ebb – she must have donated it, and it’s mixed in with all of my old clothes from the farm. I search for something to wear underneath it so my boobs are at least a little covered.
    I jump in the shower and as much as I’m enjoying the warm water washing over me, I know I need to hurry. Everyone is waiting for me. When I get out of the bathroom, Dad, Ebb, and Chad have left.
    “Where did they go?” I ask.
    “They had to start on their jobs,” Mum replies. “Everyone works here, Lia.” I just nod, but I smile at the fact she called me Lia. And even though she was kind of condescending, my smile appears anyway. It’s a nickname that only Mum and Aunt Kenna use for me. “Are we ready to go?” she asks.
    “I might just grab a quick shower,” Shilah says.
    “Okay. While you do that, I’ll go check that the car is charged and ready to go,” Mum says.
    Drew and I are left alone. I shift my gaze away from him.
    “A bit ironic, don’t you think?” he asks me.
    “Ironic?”
    “Well yeah. Running from the Institute, hiding? Is this not the same plan we had for Shilah and me months ago?”
    “Yes, but wasn’t that plan actually fake?” I argue.
    “I’m not going to get into another fight with you, Allira. The truth is that plan – while fake – was something that I often found myself thinking and dreaming about. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to live like this, to be free. So, thank you.”
    “For?”
    “For bringing me here,” he replies.
    “I think you need to thank Chad, not me. If it was up to me, you never would’ve come with us last night.”
    Drew nods, “Fair enough. I’ll remember to thank him later.” I doubt very much that Drew will actually do it. “And I just want to say that you don’t have to be all defensive towards me. I know we will not be getting back together. I thought that might have been a possibility because the last three months have been great, I even thought we were building some trust again. But now I realise it was just an act on your part. I hope we can put everything behind us and start fresh though. I hope we can be friends.”
    “I guess,” I reluctantly agree. “But just because we’re friends, that doesn’t mean I have to trust you. And remember, my boyfriend will kick your arse if you do anything remotely close to screwing me over again.” I play it off like I’m half-joking but I think we both know there’s truth to what I just said.
    “Oh, so he is your boyfriend now?” he asks. I don’t answer him, I don’t need to. I think my face – the horrid blushing – says it all. “To be honest,” he says, “I’m actually more scared about you kicking my arse. I feel a bit sore today, in case you were wondering,” he says, rubbing his neck.
    I smile, “You can thank Chad for that too. He taught me how to knock someone out with a single punch.”
    “Okay, are we ready?” Mum interrupts, walking back in. She’s changed out of her military costume and looks more like the mother I remembered. Her hair neatly braided down her back, a long maxi dress covering up her strong, fit body. I give her a smile.
    “I am,” Shilah says coming down the hallway. Drew and I stand.
    “Let’s go,” Mum says.
    We follow her out to where a car is parked. Another old, beat up hatchback. I guess the Resistance don’t have access to fancy cars like the ones at the Institute.
    “So as you can see,” Mum starts as we all get into the car – Shilah in the front, Drew and I in the back. “We run everything on solar here,” she says, pointing to the roof of the house where solar panels cover the roof tiles. “All of our properties are solar