Free Normal by Francine Pascal Page A

with us will be a pleasant one. We’ll have plenty of time to—ah!”
    Suko turned expectantly. Someone was clumping loudly down the stairs. Gaia and Jake looked over.
    A girl descended into view. Gaia saw her shoes first—expensive, gleaming Robert Clergerie shoes. Then she saw a plaid skirt, like a girls’ school uniform.
    It was a girls’ school uniform, Gaia realized, although it was artfully disheveled and sloppy. The girl galloping down the stairs was tall and skinny, with long blond hair. She wore a tartan skirt with a pin holding it shut, but the top of the uniform was replaced by an oversized Eminem T-shirt. Gaia saw a small gold stud on the side of her nose.
    As she came down into view, the new girl looked over curiously at Gaia and Jake. Mostly at Jake.
    â€œZan, this is Gaia Moore,” Suko said warmly. Her gestures were very formal, and she never seemed to stop smiling. “She’ll be joining us.”
    â€œGreat.” Zan looked right at Gaia. Her face suggested that it was anything but. Her gaze went from Gaia’s head to her feet and back up. Blatantly sizing her up.
    Gaia stared right back.
    â€œPlease,” Suko said, “would you help Gaia with her boxes?”
    Zan took a second. She kept looking at Gaia with the same regal look, like she was Scarlett O’Hara coming down the staircase in a southern mansion for a great ball. Then she turned and smiled tightly at Suko. The smile didn’t look very genuine.
    â€œSure,” Zan said.
    This is a girl who doesn’t like to take orders, Gaia realized. And I don’t think she likes lifting boxes, either.
    But she was obeying.
    â€œI can manage,” Gaia said quickly. “It’s really no trouble.”
    Zan took the top box from the floor in front of Jake. She got very close to him to do it. “You notice she didn’t introduce you,” Zan said. She flipped her hair back from her face as she smiled at him. “So I don’t know your name.”
    â€œUm—” Jake had nothing to say. Suko was watching carefully—she seemed determined that Jake not move a single inch into the building.
    â€œNo boys allowed,” Zan told Gaia. It was friendly enough, but Gaia suspected that she was making a show for Jake’s benefit. “You heard that, right?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œZan, please show Gaia into the front room with the window,” Suko said. “Jason, we can manage the boxes.”
    â€œI’m Jake,” he told her. “Gaia, um—”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Gaia told him. Her headache was still there, throbbing dully behind her forehead. She stepped over and kissed him quickly and then hugged him. Zan was carrying one of Gaia’s boxes up the stairs.
    â€œI’m sorry, Jake,” she repeated. Suddenly she felt very alone and very, very tired. “I’m sorry you can’t come in.”
    â€œNot your fault,” Jake said. He put his hands on her shoulders, looking down at her face, concerned. “You sure you’re all right? You want me to buy you a cup of coffee or something?”
    â€œI just want to sleep,” Gaia said. She knew what he was really saying. He wanted to talk. But there was no way. She was barely ready for that conversation, even if she’d been wide awake.
    â€œAll right,” Jake said. “So, take it easy. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    â€œYeah.” She squeezed his hand. “Thanks, Jake. Thanks for—”
    Fighting next to me? Nearly getting killed? Patiently waiting while I put off our “big conversation”? Carrying my boxes? Obeying the stupid rules of this place? Saving my life? Again? Understanding that I can’t talk yet?
    â€œâ€”everything. Thanks for everything.”
    Jake smiled. “Sure.”
    Then he nodded at Suko and turned around and walked down the wide stone stairs into the night. Gaia watched his dark silhouette move down