Ascension (The Ascension Series) Read Free Page B

on the other side of Clark.
    That kid was Donny Karaway, generally known only as ‘Donny the Geek’─ a moniker he earned after dubbing himself ‘Donny the Great’ for bringing his math team to a state-wide victory in middle school. He was given a nickname for his nickname and was never able to shake it off. Donny had a head full of ginger hair, a face covered in freckles, and a mouth full of bright red braces. Like Andrew, Donny the Geek tucked his polo shirts into his khaki pants. Unlike Andrew, he wasn’t exactly respected. The same dress sense usually got Donny’s tiny frame shoved into a locker.
    “Hey, what’s up, Donny?” Clark said, finally paying attention to him.
    “Clark!” Donny the Geek said excitedly. “I heard about your party. Am I invited?”
    “Sure, dude, why not?”
    “Awesome,” Donny said with relief, “Attending a cool party is just what I need to heighten my social status. You think I could score a girl at this party, Clark?”
    “Well,” Clark thought for a few seconds, “I guess anything’s possible.”
    “You think I could get a hot cheerleader girlfriend like you?” Donny asked.
    “ Maybe you should think smaller,” Clark suggested.
    “Perhaps I can get to make out with a mediocre looking girl after sh e’s drunk?” Donny said giddily.
    “Stranger things have happened.”
    “Y’know,” Donny told him, “One day I’m gonna own this city. I’ve got it all planned out.”
    “Wow, really?” Clark asked , unsure if he wanted Donny to elaborate.
    “Oh yeah. I’ll major in bio-molecular engineering and start my own company at the age of 25. Initiate a couple of scientific breakthroughs and buy out BioTech Industries at the age of 35. I’m going to be richer than Charles’s dad and revenge will be mine. Revenge against everyone who refers to me as Donny the Geek.”
    “Richer than Charles’s dad?” Clark asked.
    “You heard right,” Donny said arrogantly.
    “I read that Charles’s dad is worth half a billion. I think it was in Forbes. Something like that.”
    “Sounds about right,” Donny nodded.
    Chloe Li, a beautiful young Chinese girl with fair skin and a single pink highlight in her otherwise jet black hair, skipped over to Donny the Geek. Wearing a pink dress emblazoned with flames, she waved and said hi to Clark and Andrew and they waved back. Chloe Li bent over so close to Donny that he could smell her perfume without trying. Her lavender scent was enough to make his entire body tingle. Clark wanted to make him snap out of whatever trance he was in but Clark couldn’t do it without drawing attention to the drool pouring from Donny’s mouth. So, despite being close enough to kiss, Chloe had to call Donny’s name several times before he zoned back into reality.
    “Yeah, sorry,” Donny said, shaking his head and wiping his mouth.
    “I just wanted to remind you that the Franklin Pierce math team is having tryouts this semester,” Chloe Li told Donny. “I know you were on the team last year but the new rules state that everyone must re-apply. As captain of the team, I’m the only exception.”
    “Yeah, I definitely will,” Donny assured her. “Especially if you’re still captain.”
    “Great, you’re always a terrific teammate, Donny,” Chloe smiled. She straightened her posture, evened out her shirt, and returned to her computer station on the other side of the room.
    “Dude, you can’t just black out like that when a girl gets close,” Clark told Donny.
    “I know! That never happens with any other girl. Just her. It only happens with Chloe,” Donny confessed.
    “Wow,” Clark exclaimed.
    “I know. In fact, I’m usually not even afraid to talk to girls. I’ve asked tons of girls outs,” Donny said.
    “Really?” Clark asked.
    “Yeah,” Donny told him, “They’ve all said ‘no’ but I’ve still asked them all.”
    “You’v e asked Chloe out?” Clark’s tone grew suspicious.
    “No, I can’t! She’s the one girl I