Page 31 (1/2)

The kids who’d co were all about ten years younger than Maria, excepting a few adults who, like her, were hoping to go to college for the first tiht as she walked Here, a person of eighty years old could decide it was tio It cost money, but there ays to find it and people ould help Maria had explored every avenue and put together a plan to coh, but she would do it

An air of anticipation hung over the building Maria entered She checked in, following the directions to the room where she’d take her test Kids who knew each other talked excitedly, hiding their nervousness, while others found seats, eyes ith anticipation

The current of anxiousness was palpable Maybe Maria had lived with Shifters too long, because she picked up every nuance of worry, fear, and excitement

She chose a desk near s that overlooked the parking lot Maria could see Connor lounging in the truck fifty yards fro Connor had been such a help to her ever since she arrived She couldn’t i in Shiftertoithout Connor Or Ellison

Ellison No, Maria needed to focus She’d suck it up, do the test, and then relax on Dylan’s porch with her friends, and let thoughts of a bare Ellison run through her head all she wanted He’d been beautiful as his wolf, his fur itself quivering with his strength She’d loved stroking hi the test said

Maria juh her, and opened the test booklet She looked at the first question with nuain

She knew that one She could do this

Maria answered a few more questions with confidence, then looked up and out theto reassure herself with Connor’s presence again

And saw him slumped over in the truck, his body linize climb into the front of the truck and drive it away

Chapter Eleven

Maria jumped out of her seat The other test-takers looked up and around in irritation

"You need to sit down," the proctor said

Maria re the truck speed up and out of the parking lot She turned around, blindly afraid, and made for the door

"You can’t leave until the break," the proctor said, rising and following her