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"You’re allowed in here if it’s raining, but othere’re expected to stay outside during break," Day says to Natalie

Natalie hesitates, clearly uncertain about sitting anywhere nearto bite you," Day says

"Not unless you ask real nice" I show a gli

"Grow up, Fisher," Day replies as they sit down

"Aren’t you going to introduce us?" Beetle asks Day

She lets out an exasperated sigh "Natalie, this freak of nature is Matthias"

"Beetle No one calls me Matthias," he corrects her

Day turns to me "And this charmer is Ash"

"Nice coat," I say "I had a jacket just like that, before some Sentry brat stole it"

"Maybe she didn’t steal it? Maybe she found it under a bridge after so left it behind?" Natalie replies "Of course, she could just hand it to the Sentry guard I’m sure they’d be very interested to find its real owner"

I narrow my eyes at her Just you dare

"Hey, isn’t that your coat, bro?" Beetle says

Day gives Natalie a quizzical look "Do you know each other?"

"We had the displeasure of ht," she says

"I want h Finders keepers," she says

I curl my fists under the desk

Beetle lets out athe Haze Headache, one of the unpleasant side effects of co Day narrows her dark eyes at hiuilty look in my direction is all the answer she needs She whips around on me

"I don’t believe you, Ash Fisher! It’s not even nine in the h?"

"I didn’t!" I exclai off our discussion

Gregory stretches out a hand toward Natalie

"I’ory Thompson," he says "My father works for the Departeion, that sort of thing Maybe you’ve heard of hi a bell" I try not to laugh Gregory’sit sound like his dad is somebody important in the ministry, when really he’s just a foreman at the Synth-O-Blood factory

He looks disappointed "Well, it’s an honor to have you here I’ll happily show you around the school--"

"Day’s doing that, but thanks," she says dismissively

"You don’t want to be seen with her sort, she’s one of the Rise kids," he says to Natalie "I’ll set you up with the right type of people to know"

Day’s cheeks burn red

"I can ht type of people’ are," Natalie snaps "I’ood idea of who I want to avoid"

He pushes his lank hair away froive you my heartfelt condolences about your father’s death last year?"

"Thanks," she ory turns on ers into the edge of the desk, crushing the wood "Why? All his death meant to me was one less Sentry in this world That can only ever be a good thing"

Natalie flinches and quickly turns her back onin her eyes

"Just ignore hiory smirks at me and skulks back to his desk

Natalie wipes her eyes, and guilt crawls through me I immediately force that emotion aside Why should I care if she’s upset? She’s just a fragging Sentry

"I don’t kno I’h the rest of the year with her here," I say to Beetle through gritted teeth

"Just avoid her, man," Beetle says

"I swear, we’ll be lucky toeach other," I say

I ht

8

NATALIE

I HURRY OUT of the classrooet away froain I’s; they’re rude and cruel and don’t care about anyone’s feelings but their own

Ash exits the classroo off hiirls’ restroos shut

"You okay?" Day asks

I nod, butaround Ash all year, when one glance from him turns my blood to ice?

"Is Ash such a jerk to everyone?" I say

"Pretty h That sounds like a good plan "What’s up with that short guy?"