The Legend Read Free Page A

I want to laugh. I have no desire to run into Aidan’s open arms. I have no intention of any romance, with either of them – my capacity for love has been damaged beyond repair – but there are no words to make him understand and so I don’t say anything. He nods abruptly, acceptingly, and then he rubs his hand over his unshaven face.
    â€œI’ll see you later, Tiny.”

 
    chapter 2
    F or the next two days I lie in that bed feeling increasingly frustrated. Henry removed my drip on day two, once I started eating and drinking again on my own. He also asked Veronica to give me a bed bath, which I refused out of sheer stubborn pride. The kind doctor has limited my visitors to a select few, and Alex is the most frequent. He is in excellent spirits now that he knows I am going to be okay, and he regales me with stories about school and his friends. From the frequent mention of her name, I gather that he has been spending most of his time with Brooke, the young girl we saved on our travels to the west coast. Alex also seems to take for granted that his father and I are back together now that Aidan has recovered his memory. I do not have the heart to correct this assumption. Aidan and Reed are conspicuous by their absence and, although this surprises me, I am grateful that I don’t have to deal with the cloying claustrophobia of their attention.
    In the early hours of the morning on day three, true to her nature, Jenna sneaks into my room.
    â€œBecca girl!” Oblivious of my fragile state, she throws her arms around me and squeezes me far too tightly for someone who is so incredibly petite.
    â€œJenna,” I wheeze, and she releases me, pulling up the chair and draping herself over it like a cover girl. She is wearing a short fuchsia pink skirt and a white tank top – singularly inappropriate attire for the Rebeldom. But then Jenna has never been practical with her wardrobe, always choosing form over function.
    â€œYou gave us all quite a scare,” she announces accusingly, as if I might have done it on purpose.
    â€œSorry.”
    â€œI knew you’d pull through; you always do.”
    â€œThanks,” I laugh despite myself. “Your confidence in me is inspiring.”
    â€œSo,” she lowers her voice conspiratorially, “Aidan’s memory is back.” She waggles her perfectly groomed eyebrows.
    â€œYeah,” I sigh.
    â€œWell, that answers a question I’ve been dying to ask you. What are you going to do?” Typically, Jenna’s first question has to do with my romantic involvements.
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œNothing?”
    â€œI just . . . I can’t deal with them right now, Jen. There’s just too much . . . I have bigger things to worry about.”
    â€œOh, yeah. I overheard your dad talking,” she presses. “He said your abilities aren’t working?”
    â€œThey’ll come back.”
    â€œHow can you be sure?”
    â€œI’ve seen it before.” Reed was also temporarily robbed of his abilities after he had been shot trying to save Aidan’s life. Any life-threatening injury seems to strip us temporarily of our abilities.
    â€œAnd if they don’t?” Jenna will not let it go, and she is eyeing me closely, watching my reaction.
    â€œThey will.” I am adamant. I will have my procedures again if I have to. I have a score to settle.
    Jenna drops the subject and we chat for a few more minutes, but I barely take in a word of what she is saying. The second she is out of the room, I throw off my blankets.
    â€œYou shouldn’t be out of bed,” Henry scolds when he enters a moment later carrying a glass of orange juice and what looks like porridge for my breakfast.
    â€œJust get me some clothes,” I snap.
    He grudgingly fetches me a pair of grey sweatpants and a blue V-necked jersey, along with a pair of slippers. He beats a hasty retreat as I start to undress, tossing the