Page 10 (2/2)

"Nick" Dr Cutter appeared beside his desk, tapping a finger on the plastic surface His voice was gentle but carried an air of finality "Ti "Onemoment, but Nick felt his concern in the air

Finally, he put a hand on Nick’s wrist, stilling his writing

"Did you not understand the material?" he said "I wish you had come to me earlier this week--"

"No" This was pointless Nick put his pencil down and rubbed at his eyes "I understood it"

The teacher picked up the test and flipped through the pages

"You’ve missed the entire last section"

Like he didn’t know that Nick focused on the pencil, wishing he could stab it straight through his hand "I’ up the formulas"

Dr Cutter sat down at the desk beside hi on at home?"

Nick knew this voice He’d heard it twelve dozen times since his parents died While teachers and counselors had learned to steer clear of Gabriel’s temper, they knew they could seek answers froh to eat?

Is your brother doing enough to take care of you?

But he was seventeen now, and way too old to get a pass for so this test had nothing to do with proble to do with one dark-haired dancer

God, you’re obsessed

"No," he said "Home’s fine Really"

Dr Cutter wasn’t convinced "Girlfriend?"

Nick looked at him "I’m okay Just tired"

"This is a unit test If you fail, you’ll have to get son it"

Michael probably wouldn’t be angry, but he’d definitely want an explanation That was aluy

Nick cleared his throat "I know I’m sorry I’ll catch up"

His teacher studied him, and Nick told himself not to look away Finally, Dr Cutter clapped him on the shoulder "I’ll let you do a retake Friday?"

This was a pityat hi him on what he expected froht carry a lot of weight when colleges started dishing out funds

He told his pride to stick it "That would be great Thank you"

AP Calculus wasn’t otten to do the homework Three questions--three stupid questions!--but he’d never gotten around to opening his assignht, so he hadn’t bothered to do therade sheet

At least this was only homework

By the time he sat at a table at lunch, he was ready for so

Lunch was pizza Figured Not even so much as a plastic fork

A tray dropped onto the table beside him Four slices of pizza and a coke The air told him it was Gabriel before his eyes did

His twin dropped onto the bench "What’s with you?"

They hadn’t seen each other all , but Gabriel could always read his moods like Nick had a news crawl embedded in his forehead

"Failed a physics test," Nick said

"You kno I solve that problem?" said his twin "I don’t take physics"

"Hilarious Where’s Hunter?"

"Working on a research project I was starving" He popped the cap on the soda "You look like shit"

"Wow, I’lad you sat down"

"Hunter said you snuck Quinn in last night I’ed, keeping his eyes on his food, torn between defending Quinn’s honor and keeping his own secrets Then again, she wasn’t exactlycase for her own chastity

"She needed a place to crash" Nick hesitated "Tyler’s hassling her" He repeated everything that Quinn had told hi two slices of pizza to eat the behind the 7-Eleven?"

"She won’t tellit around in his head

Had she been so upset over Tyler? Or had soirl"

"Why?"

"Because she’s nothing but dralared at hie"

"Jesus, don’t biteto save you the trouble We have enough drama"

He didn’t need a reminder of that Nick picked up his slice of pizza to spare hi

"Where is the old ball and chain, anyway?" said Gabriel

"She had soroup project for French"

They sat in silence for a long --but he was so worried he’d open his

"It’s not just your test," said Gabriel "What else is up?"

I spent half the night with a boy and I can’t stop thinking about him "I’m just tired"

Gabriel didn’t respond, but Nick could feel the weight of his eyes

"You guys are getting serious, huh?" Gabriel said

"Maybe" Nick chewed his pizza and fought with his brain as it helpfully supplied hi, driving his body into a powerful routine Adaers, then stronger Adaht?" said Gabriel

Nick choked on his pizza He coughed hard and needed a drink of soda to get it together "What did you just say?"

"I said, what are you doing tonight? You’re so frigging keyed up You have plans with Quinn? Want to go out?"

Nick shook his head "Yes No I ot to study"

Gabriel’s hand closed over his forearht?"