Chapter 9

When the bell rings, he doesn’t move. Maybe he can stay outside during the next lunch period, too. Maybe no one will notice.

He hears students pass him on the way to the cafeteria. A few whisper his name as they go by. He hears someone mention the fight. If he weren’t so relaxed, he’d get up and teach the bastard not to talk about him. But the sun has drained his energy and he just wants to lie here for a while, like a cat soaking up the sun. His legs are hot and he wishes he had on shorts. Why couldn’t the dress code include shorts?

Suddenly he feels a warm weight settle on his knee as someone sits down. He opens one eye to find Avery grinning at him, his school books on his lap. He’s sitting on my knee,Jacob thinks, and the way Avery looks at him makes him giddy. “I’ve been watching you,” Avery says by way of hello. “My class is up there…”

He points, but Jacob doesn’t follow his finger. He’s too busy looking at the curve of Avery’s neck, which is graceful from this angle.