Blest Read Free Page B

out which groups already had a history, playing them off one another. But now it just felt childish, like they were too old to be making truces and alliances behind each other’s backs.
    Gunner leaned in toward Shane, listening to whatever he had to say, and Claire tuned them out, taking a bite of her salad.
    She didn’t want to admit it, but all through lunch, she kept searching for Jim.
    • • •
    After school, Claire and Gunner walked out of the hallway, pushed along by the current of students as everyone fled to their respective buses, cars, and other getaway vehicles. Claire hadn’t caught sight of Jim once. She tried not to let herself wonder about him, and why she couldn’t stop thinking of him.
    Gunner nudged her with his shoulder. “What’s wrong?” he asked over the hollering of a pack of freshmen who were sliding down the railing.
    Claire took a deep breath of the crisp autumn air and shook her head. “Nothing. Whatever. Is Mom picking us up or are we choosing a bus at random again?”
    Gunner laughed. “She’s picking us up in an hour. I joined the cross-country team. You should come, it’ll be fun.”
    “You already joined?” Claire asked incredulously. “When did that happen?”
    He snapped his fingers. “It’s all about connections, sis.”
    “So I have to wait another hour to get home?” Suddenly she wanted to be far away from Pearlton High School. Maybe she could go to the library and see if she could check out a book or something.
    “You could come,” Gunner said. “See if they have any spots left on the girls’ team. You’re almost as fast as I am.”
    “And have to quit mid-season when Mom makes us move again?”
    Gunner began to say something, but Claire cut him off, suddenly angry. Why wasn’t Gunner as pissed off as her? “I just wish she would stop moving us around for once in our lives. What is this, our fifth school in four years?”
    “Sixth, actually.” Gunner made a face, squinting at the clouds moving slowly across the sky. “Maybe seventh? There’s nothing we can do to change things. Just enjoy the pleasures of being right outside glorious St. Louis, Missouri! Maybe it’ll feel more like home than Pittsburgh or Boston or Atlanta.” He paused. “Besides, we’ll find something out tomorrow. Remember what Mom said after you threw that tantrum when she pulled us out of Boston Prep?”
    “Oh, right.” Claire had finally confronted her mom about their constant moving, and Gloria had promised the twins that on their sixteenth birthday she would tell them more, explain why they had been moving all their lives, never staying in the same place longer than four months.
    “So just wait until tomorrow,” Gunner said, spreading his arms wide like a magician. “And then all will be revealed!”
    She laughed. “Just go run. I’ll spend the next hour trying to plan the worst birthday present of all time for you.” She and Gunner always got each other goofy birthday presents—noisemakers, mismatched socks, an inflatable horse that Gunner sat on and instantly burst. After all, there was no point in them trying to get each other good presents. Their mom already bought them everything they could possibly want.
    “You haven’t seen my present for you! It’s the crappiest yet!” He winked and disappeared toward the track, where Claire saw a bunch of kids already starting to stretch. She smiled a little as she thought of her brother out there. He had been the fastest runner on every team he had ever joined. It was always fun to watch, but Claire had never really gotten into it. She would run and win races just as much as Gunner, but her head was always somewhere else. What was the point?
    She turned to face the lobby again—and almost slammed straight into someone, a boy with burnished blond hair, wearing a blue T-shirt. Jim .
    “Sorry,” he mumbled, taking a step backward.
    “No worries.” Claire tried to smile, but he was already leaving. “Wait!” she called