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CHAPTER 1

am-bush: n to pick a subject (me) and lie in wait to attack

“Heads up,” a loud voice called froht I looked up just in tiht between the eyes

I never really understood the saying heads up At least not as a warning Duck or watch out or flying object, even heads doould’ve worked I lie onat the purple-and-gold streaked sky—the Perceptives ht As if the school colors splashed across the sky would send us running to the ticket booth

I mentally inventoried my situation I’d landed on cement, so no mud was involved, thankfully I’d only lost thirty seconds, at the most, so I’d still make it to class on tiht

A familiar face with a mess of blond hair and a wide smile appeared above me “Sorry I said heads up” His smile proved he wasn’t very sorry at all, but more likely amused

And I looked up, hat I wanted to say, but instead I ignored his offered hand and pushed round “Yeah, I heard you, Duke” I brushedThe spot the football had hit throbbed, so I pressed ainst it, sure there was a nasty red welt

Guess I should’ve Searched theBut I didn’t Search all h alternate realities floating around in my mind that sometimes it was hard to keep track of which one I had actually lived and which was the opposing choice never made

And yet, earlier thatoutside my as tempted to see ould happen if I stayed home versus ould happen if I went to school My mom made the decision foryou this ”

“Okay, thanks” I knew better than to disagree My mom was Persuasive It was her ht er’s parents could have Who wanted hershe wanted? My mother claimed she only used it when it was important, but I wondered

My father was a huh my mom didn’t like it when I called him that; the technical term was Discerner—and he could immediately tell if I lied He said he could even tell when I planned to lie Irritating

I slid intoit before the tardy bell My best friend, Laila, wasn’t so lucky As usual, she caood five ainst her pale skin immediately drew my eyes to her defiant s each other back and forth over the line that represented nor she did made her stand out, made people notice, but I just wanted to blend in

“Laila, what do I have to do to get you here on time?” Mr Caston asked

“Move the buildings closer together?”

“Funny, Ms Stader Warning today Lunch detention tomorrow Walk faster”

She plopped into the seat next to me and rolled her eyes I smiled

“Okay,” Mr Caston said The lights dimmed, and our desk monitors lit up Instructions appeared on the screen, and I meticulously copied them into my notebook

“Seriously, Addie?” Laila asked, nodding her head toward my paper

IThe school computers hadn’t crashed infor the worst never hurt anyone

“We’re finishing up our partner work today,” Mr Caston said “Remember, no abilities, please; just use your brain”

“We were using our brains,” Bobby said from up front

“The part of your brain that doesn’t house your ability”

Everyone groaned But, considering biology was a Norht us skills to exist on the Outside needed to be learned traditionally

“Don’tmiddle school here And turn off your phones, people”

Another collective moan sounded

Laila flashed her phone at me with a conspiratorial same with me this time”

“You bought a pass? The sky thing worked on you?”

“What? No,” she said as though the implication that she could be influenced byanyway This had nothing to do with the— Whoa, what happened to your head?”

I rubbed the welt again “Duke’s football”

“You talked to Duke?”

“Not really, but his football and I seemed to hit it off”

Out of the corner of e of nore it and pretend I didn’t see him

“What do you want?” Laila asked No ht of herself as uard

“I want to talk to Addie”

I bent over and ruet the hint He didn’t I pulled out a yellow highlighter and set it on h, I looked up “Bobby, please, just leave me alone”

“I thought now that the dance was over, you’d talk to me, tell me why you went from friendly to cold the minute I asked you”

“Nope”

“Yeah, so leave,” Laila added

He walked away, glancing back once The look he gave ive up yet I hopedto have to I also kind of hoped it said, I hate your guts, but as long as it said one of the two, I was satisfied