Dissonance Read Free Page A

to point out, standing atop the bench, that I was currently taller than Simon. But he was standing closer than he ever had at school, and his dark brown hair was a good two inches longer and shaggier than I was used to, and I got distracted. He knew it too, judging from the flash of amusement in his eyes.
    â€œI can do it myself,” I said.
    â€œShe’s stubborn,” he told the girl, as if he was confiding in her. “If she’d lean on me, we’d have your balloon down by now.”
    â€œYou lean,” she ordered.
    â€œCharming,” I said.
    He nodded. “So I’m told.”
    Some things—eye color, gravity, mountain ranges—were constant no matter how far you Walked. And Simon’s reputation as the guy all the girls wanted, even though they knew better, was apparently one of them.
    I shook my head to clear the ringing.
    â€œFine. But don’t drop me.” I braced one hand on his shoulder and climbed up, both feet perched on the narrow back of the bench, feeling myself sway. His hands closed over my waist and I stretched, catching the string of the balloon, tugging until it came free of the branches. “Got it.”
    â€œJump,” he said, and I did. His thumbs brushed against my rib cage, lingering when they didn’t need to. This close, his eyes were a darker blue than I’d realized, more thickly lashed, and there was a tiny scar at the corner of his mouth I’d never seen before. Simon Lane , I thought dizzily, and pulled away.
    I tied the balloon around the girl’s wrist, and she ran off without another word.
    â€œYou’re welcome,” I called after her.
    â€œNo good deed goes unpunished,” he said, grinning at me. “I’m Simon, by the way. You look familiar.”
    â€œDel,” I said. “I go to Washington. With you.”
    He squinted, trying to place me. It wasn’t his fault. Walkers didn’t have Echoes, the way regular people did. But we left an impression through the worlds, like a daydream. When I was in class with his Original, this Echo would see my impression hovering in his peripheral vision. If he tried to look at me directly, the image would fade away, and he’d forget about me.
    Which was not so different from the Key World, now that I thought about it.
    â€œAren’t you supposed to be in class?” I asked.
    He ducked his head for a moment, then looked up with a mischievous smile. Trouble, I thought. Way more than his Original, which was saying something. “Aren’t you ?”
    A voice from behind me, bossy and superior, said, “You have got to be kidding me.”
    Addie.
    Simon didn’t hear her, of course. Unlike me, Addie would have been careful to avoid touching any Echoes. Casually I looked over my shoulder. My sister stood ten feet away, hands on hips, foot tapping, eyebrows drawn together in disapproval.
    â€œYou cut class again?” she said.
    â€œIt’s only school,” I replied, keeping my eyes on Simon, answering both questions at once. “Most useless part of my day.”
    I didn’t mention that I found my classmates equally so. They’d probably say the same about me.
    Suddenly a soaking wet chocolate Lab raced past us, Frisbee clamped in his teeth, a red bandana around his neck. He circled Addie twice and dropped the orange plastic disc at my feet. He let out a thunderous bark and panted up at me as if looking for approval.
    â€œIggy,” Simon said warningly at the same time I said, “Good puppy.”
    Which was all the encouragement Iggy needed to shake himself off, spraying pond water all over me.
    â€œNo!” groaned Simon. “Bad dog!”
    I brushed at my clothes as Iggy romped around. “Serves you right,” Addie said, snickering. “You know Mom and Dad don’t like you Walking alone.”
    Iggy woofed in her direction and put his paw out for me to shake. Gingerly I took it. Monty said animals