Free 02 Awaken-The Soulkeepers by Lori Adams Page B

sharp look at his brother, and then collapses into a seat somewhere behind me.
    I sit still, searching for any telltale signs that Michael misses me. The second heartbeat is slow and steady. There is no tugging at my heart, and I feel let down. Then it occurs to me that I’m still mad at him for abandoning me at the waterfall. He could’ve come by my house and explained, or at the very least apologized.
    I stare dismally out the window and bury my hands deep inside my coat pockets. The sky is slate gray with a promise of more snow. The bus heater is doing its best but I shiver anyway.
    My phone is buried along with my hand and when it vibrates, I pull it from my pocket. It’s sweaty and I wipe it clear and tap the screen. The word I NDIGO appears, indicating that Michael is texting me. It’s the only word suitable to identify him, since I can hardly use his real name. I thought it was very clever of me but Michael is embarrassed and wants me to change it.
    I read:
Can I assume by your pouting attitude that you are mad at me?
    Hmm. I narrow my eyes and respond:
Can I assume by your audacious display of ignoring me that you won’t be apologizing for stranding me in the woods?
    I take a deep, angry breath that flares my nostrils. Then I realize Bailey is still bitching about Duffy and expecting me to confirm that he’s being an asshole. She is seriously pissed, so I agree wholeheartedly with whatever she’s said. “Wow, he
is
being an asshole.”
    My phone vibrates and I read:
Ah, so you are confirming the pouting attitude comment. Fine. Pout away. As to my “audacious display of ignoring” you, it should be clear by now that it’s an unfortunate necessity in our situation. It would hardly be appropriate for me to pounce on you at every given opportunity. As much as I would love to
.
    I smile and clutch the phone to my chest.
As much as I would love to
runs around my head, making me warm inside. I look back out the window before Bailey gets suspicious and grabs my phone. I love when Michael says things like that, and I know I can’t really be mad at him for leaving me. What worries me more about last night is his refusal to stop kissing me in time. He ignored the warning signs; he ignored me pushing him away. I’ve never seen him like that, so insistent, so demanding. So full of need that he put my life at risk.
    I know he must feel bad about it. But why won’t he apologize? He hasn’t even acknowledged it.
    I tap the screen and type:
I have seen “As much as I would like to” firsthand. It put me in a dead faint, and I think it’s high time you explain yourself young man
.
    The bus hits a lump of ice, and we’re jostled up and down. Bailey drops her phone and yells, “Son de la bitch!” She and the phone recover without further damage but Duffy shoots her a glaring look.
    “See that?” she whispers aggressively, and I nod. Duffy is giving both of us the stink eye. It seems to be catching because Jordan the Leerer, Pacer, Casey, and J.D are now staring. I can’t shake the feeling that they know something we don’t.
    My phone vibrates again:
This hardly seems the time or place to discuss our lack of restraint, now does it? I’m sure we can find appropriate accommodations later, somewhere dark and quiet perhaps, to go over the issue in greater detail
.
    Our lack of restraint?
Our
lack?
    Why, that little Casanova. He’s flirting about something that he insisted was dangerous. How can he be so
blasé
? So … unconcerned? I can’t wait to hear his excuse.
    Everybody starts talking about this week’s basketball game, and then Caseycranks up his iPod, and Duffy starts singing “Who Spiked the Eggnog” by Straight No Chaser. It sounds like a throwback from the forties, but Duffy whips it into a rap and the guys stand up, singing and clapping like rappers on a street corner. All the girls are laughing because they look like idiots.
    By the time we pull into the New Haven hospital parking lot, Duffy has