Free Fluorescence: The Complete Tetralogy by P. Anastasia Page B

something about us ‘being paired’ or whatever. I don’t think they care about any of that stuff. Maybe they want us to be together.”
    “True.” I shrugged. “Though I still don’t know what that means.”
    “Just keep in touch, okay? Even if we can’t meet up again over break, we still have our phones.”
    “Yeah.”
    We were about to pass the threshold when he turned and looked me in the eye. His gaze flitted down to my lips.
    “No.” I shook my head. “What if it happens again? We can’t let everyone see it.”
    He heaved a sigh. “You’re right. Though, I don’t know how I’m going to live without another kiss, or two, or a thousand from you… eventually.”
    I whimpered. He was joking, but still.
    Pull yourself together. There had to be more to life than…
    “Come on.” He gestured for me to go ahead of him and then followed me down the stairs and back to the table.
     
    . . .
     
    “I can’t believe you infected him!” Sam said, pointing a carrot stick at me in the school lunchroom. “Wow. You are a terrible girlfriend.”
    “Keep it down! God knows that sounds so wrong here.” I face-palmed.
    Most kids love a long break, but all I had been able to think about every day of Christmas vacation was Brian. I had to count the days because Mom didn’t want anyone over while family was still in town. It got a little crazy with my uncle, aunt and their kids around.
    “I’m not upset, Sam. Believe me,” Brian protested. “Besides, we don’t know for sure if that’s what happened.”
    We had told Sam about our condition , since I trusted her and she already knew about mine anyway.
    “There’s no way to prove I gave him the stuff,” I argued. “Maybe it was just a coincidence, you know?”
    Sam nodded. “I guess. But it’s weird.”
    I heard the click of high heels approaching.
    “Hey, Brian,” someone said. “Are you sitting at the little girls’ table now?”
    I veered around. A tall, skinny girl with dark olive skin stood behind me, a hand propped on her hip as if she were on a cat walk. Thick black liner traced her eyes and metallic indigo and purple eye shadow sparkled below her shaped brows. She looked Indian—Bollywood movie Indian. I immediately envied her glossy, straight black hair. It fell down past her hips. The longest hair I’d ever seen in real life.
    “Kareena, get lost.” Brian shot her an angry glare and then returned his attention to me.
    “Aw, what’s wrong, Brian? Sad you have to babysit?” Her exaggerated valley-girl accent made me cringe.
    Wow. Was this girl for real? I didn’t even know her and I already wanted to tell her to get lost, too. I felt small and unattractive beside her shapely, tall, and very feminine body. She had curves in all the right places, and her black and red plaid mini skirt and black leggings accentuated those curves.
    “I’m not babysitting,” Brian replied gruffly, stabbing his lasagna with a plastic spork.
    “Hi. I’m Alice,” I said, trying to be polite. “This is my friend Sam.”
    Kareena scowled, cocking an eyebrow. “Sam? Isn’t that a boy’s name?”
    “Kareena, stop!” Brian stood up from his seat and stared angrily at her. “Alice is my girlfriend. Sam is her friend. If you have anything else to say about that, then say it to someone who gives a damn.”
    A conniving little grin curled on her lips. “Hmph.” Kareena pointed her nose up and crossed her arms. “Your loss. Let me know when you’re done playing with kindergartners.” She turned and sashayed away like a runway model.
    “What just happened?” I slouched over, feeling inadequate all of a sudden. Unattractive and normal .
    “Don’t worry about her, Alice,” Brian said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me closer. “She’s been irritating me since I started coming to this school. I’m sorry you got dragged into it now that we’re sitting together. Kareena’s just being… Kareena.”
    I never wanted to be part of it