Pulse Read Free Page A

“That one stung.”
    Faith punched him on the arm. A low punch was required to miss the side of his head.
    “Just kidding. You look at least eleven.”
    “Really? Thanks!”
    They laughed as they entered the corridor and looked both ways. Faith could imagine what it had been like when there were 2,000 students and 75 teachers. The energy must have been amazing. As it was, the place felt like a morgue. A few bodies moving between doors, a very low hum of voices.
    “I wonder how long they’ll keep this place open,” Faith asked.
    “Hard to say,” Hawk answered, making a note on his Tablet, which he had snapped to small and held in his delicate palm. “But I’ll see what I can find out.”
    They were about to part when two tall figures arrived, entering the corridor from the far end of the building. At first Faith only saw their silhouettes against a bright window behind them. There was a confidence in these walking shadows that seemed out of place at Old Park Hill. As they came closer, Faith realized it was a guy and a girl, and that they were at least her own age.
    “Who . . . ,” Faith started to ask, but Hawk was already on it. “Wade and Clara Quinn,” Hawk said, leaning in a little close to catch the scent of Faith’s perfume while he thought she was distracted. “Believe it or not, they’re in the Field Games, representing the outside. They’re scary smart, too. Also a-holes.”
    Faith was starting to think Hawk thought everyone at Old Park Hill was an a-hole. But she didn’t mention it, because Wade Quinn was staring at her. His sister had peeled off, but Wade’s eyes were locked on Faith. It was like there was no one else in the world. The closer he got, the better looking he was, until he was standing right next to her and she was doing something she rarely ever did. Faith Daniels, five feet eleven, was looking way up at a boy.
    “How tall are you?” she said without even thinking. It just tumbled out of her mouth unexpectedly.
    Wade smiled, blond hair falling down around blue eyes.
    “Tall enough,” he said. “I’m Wade.”
    “Hey, Wade. How’s it going?” Hawk asked.
    Wade didn’t look at Hawk or answer his question, but he nodded at him, never taking his eyes off Faith. They were having a moment , both of them instantly attracted to each other. Their eyes kept making contact, then dashing quickly to the floor or a locker. Wade loved tall girls, the taller the better, and he liked the way Faith’s hair fell over one bright eye like she was toying with him. For Faith, it was Wade’s light-blue eyes and the curl of his lips. She could imagine staring into that face for hours just for the pleasure of looking at it.
    “Cool,” said Hawk, like he and Wade were having a conversation they clearly were not having. “I’m good. I’m really good. This is Faith. She’s new.”
    Wade’s sister, the other half of the Twins, arrived beside him. She was almost as tall as he was, and gorgeous. She had surprisingly short hair that focused gawkers on her athletic, chiseled face. And her long, lean body offered plenty of curves, too.
    “Holy shit, you’re tall,” said Faith. It was rare for her to encounter a girl this much taller than she was. Clara Quinn had to be six feet two.
    “Thank you,” Clara said, studying Faith from top to bottom. “I think.”
    She nudged Wade on the shoulder to get him moving, and the two of them continued down the nearly empty corridor. Wade turned back.
    “Nice pants.”
    And then he was gone around a corner.
    Hawk glanced behind Faith, checking out the pants.
    “Those are definitely nice. Did you order them from the Western State? I can get things a lot cheaper from the Eastern State. I know; it doesn’t make any sense, right? Which is why it makes sense.”
    “Yeah, okay, I’ll see you later then.”
    Faith started walking away in a love-crush daze, searching for her next class, and Hawk called after her.
    “Be careful, Faith. The Twins are pretty