Entanglement Read Free Page A

smoked, and waxed philosophical, debating chakras and alien abduction.
    Wedged between two people on a secondhand couch sat Jack Franklin. Long-haired, pierced, and lean, his upper body extensively tattooed, he sat listening. His face usually had an open, contemplative quality, but tonight he looked troubled and preoccupied. He took a swig when a vodka bottle was passed around; the rest of the crowd was guzzling from the same bottle and passing a joint. Jack held the joint in his fingers for a moment, then passed it on. He rubbed his temples and shut his eyes. He was having trouble following the thread of conversation. Finally, he stood up to leave.
    His friend, a gaunt blond with a shaved head named Sam, broke off from his conversation when he saw Jack leaving, and followed.
    â€œWhat’s up, man? You seem out of it tonight.”
    â€œYeah, I can’t concentrate. My head’s killing me. I don’t know what it is.”
    Sam looked at him with concern.
    â€œYou’ve seemed off all night.”
    â€œJust tired. I’ll catch you later.”
    Sam, the son of one of the town’s wealthier families, claimed to be a socialist. He lived on a few hundred a month from his trust fund and gave the rest away to whatever charity moved him at the moment.
    Jack found his friend’s attitude both noble and unnerving. As someone who often didn’t have enough money to make it through the week, watching Sam try to decide what he should do with his extra cash each month was often more than he could bear.
    Especially since the warehouse was in constant need of repair. The landlord lived in another state and was deaf to complaints about termites, leaks, and faulty plumbing. Usually the residents simply waited until someone happened along with the requisite skills to fix whatever was broken.
    â€œYou can give some money to me, man,” Jack said on several occasions, and though Sam was agreeable, Jack found that he was unable to accept it in the end.
    As he walked away now, he rubbed his eyes as if to clear his vision. For a moment, he leaned against the wall in dizziness and disorientation. Again he touched his temple and took a few deep breaths. What was wrong with him?
    Alma rushed up and put her arm around him. “Hey, sweetie, you okay?”
    With her long, braided hair and large eyes, Alma had an innocent, almost childlike demeanor that Jack found alluring. They had lived together, off and on, in his small room, but at the moment they had rooms of their own. Alma wore a pearl ring he’d bought for her during a euphoric early weekend that they’d spent together traveling the coast. She wore it on her ring finger; it was unclear what she believed it symbolized. Jack had thought only that the ring was pretty and had wanted to buy her a gift. He cared for Alma, but had yet to have the experience of wanting to spend his life with one woman. He’d never had the heart to tell her this, however.
    They stood in a tight hallway, her fingers interlaced with his. He stood against the brick wall, and she kissed his cheek.
    â€œWhat’s wrong? You don’t seem like yourself,” she whispered.
    Jack buried his face in her hair but pulled away as she began kissing his neck. His eyes were closed, and he was unresponsive.
    â€œNot in the mood?”
    Jack wrapped his arms around her waist. “It doesn’t have anything to do with you.”
    Alma pulled back and looked closely at his face. “Who does it have to do with?”
    â€œI just need to be alone right now. I’m having a rough time.”
    Alma blanched. “I’ve never heard you say that before.”
    â€œI’ve never felt like this before,” Jack said. “It’s about my brother—I’ll tell you about it later.”
    Alma still looked almost tearful. Seeing her face, he gathered her closer to him. “Everything’s cool with us. It’ll be okay.”
    â€œYou