had been awkward between us since she struck me last week for cursing. “Your father told me that your science partner called earlier…what was his name, again?”
I thought quickly. Father must have asked for a name when Jasper called, and Jasper must have been smart enough to give just a first name. My parents would have recognized his last name in a heartbeat. They were very involved in Oportet’s government, and new Outsiders were a very big deal to the Council. The Council held new residents in the same shroud of suspicion as residents showing rebellious tendencies, which were considered strictly detrimental to our society’s well being.
Hopefully they hadn’t already singled out Jasper.
“Oh, that was Jasper. He had a question about the project we did Saturday.” I tried to sound disinterested.
“You never told us that your project at the museum was a partnered project.”
I put on my best look of innocence.
“I’m sorry—I didn’t think it mattered. I’ll be sure to let you know in the future.”
Mother pursed her lips. She hesitated a moment, tapping her fingers on my desk. “Your Father and I need to know who you are with at all times, is that understood?” I nodded once more. “Goodnight, Luna.”
“Goodnight.” When she left, I grabbed the phone off my desk and flipped off the light switch. My room instantly became pitch black, and I struggled for a moment to find my way to the bed.
“Are you still there?”
“Yep.”
“I think your insanity has officially rubbed off on me.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I’m going to come over tomorrow. And you can show me all of your music and books—and whatever else you brought from Portland.”
“I knew my charm would eventually win you over. It always does.”
I smiled into the darkness. I was thinking strange and exciting new thoughts—thoughts that I had never allowed myself to dwell on before.
“We can’t tell anyone about this. My parents would rip out my lungs if they found out I was sneaking off to your house.”
Jasper laughed at my choice of fate. “Feuding families and sneaking around—classic Romeo and Juliet scenario.”
“Who are Romeo and Juliet?” I assumed he was referring to something forbidden from Oportet.
“Wow. You kids really are deprived of great literature. It’s considered a classic back in the real world. My grandma had me read it a few years ago. She started ranting about how my mom wasn’t giving me a proper education, and that her English professors made her read all kinds of boring shit to make her more intelligent.
“She was the one who got me into reading. It was better than sitting around waiting for the next big catastrophe to happen. People on the Outside may be free, but your parents aren’t lying when they say it’s dangerous out there.” Jasper was very quiet on the other line, and I could sense something very troubling in his voice.
“Dangerous?” I thought this whole time Jasper had been hinting that the Outside was better than Oportet. “I want you to tell me all about it…when we’re sneaking around and such.” I was grinning, expecting Jasper to laugh. He didn’t.
“I’d rather not.”
Suddenly everything was serious, and I had an indescribable feeling of unease in my stomach. It felt like I had somehow dug up something Jasper needed to keep buried.
“What’s your address?” I asked, quickly changing the subject. I used the small lamp on my bedside table for light as I dug around in my backpack for a pen and paper.
“Do you have something to write it on?” Jasper sounded distant.
I grabbed my calculus notebook and pencil after flipping my lamp back on. “Yeah. I’m ready.”
Chapter Nine
I woke up in a deep depression. I didn’t want to eat, I didn’t want to move, I didn’t want to communicate with anyone, and I didn’t want to continue living my life like everything was okay. Nothing was normal anymore. I just wanted to
I thought quickly. Father must have asked for a name when Jasper called, and Jasper must have been smart enough to give just a first name. My parents would have recognized his last name in a heartbeat. They were very involved in Oportet’s government, and new Outsiders were a very big deal to the Council. The Council held new residents in the same shroud of suspicion as residents showing rebellious tendencies, which were considered strictly detrimental to our society’s well being.
Hopefully they hadn’t already singled out Jasper.
“Oh, that was Jasper. He had a question about the project we did Saturday.” I tried to sound disinterested.
“You never told us that your project at the museum was a partnered project.”
I put on my best look of innocence.
“I’m sorry—I didn’t think it mattered. I’ll be sure to let you know in the future.”
Mother pursed her lips. She hesitated a moment, tapping her fingers on my desk. “Your Father and I need to know who you are with at all times, is that understood?” I nodded once more. “Goodnight, Luna.”
“Goodnight.” When she left, I grabbed the phone off my desk and flipped off the light switch. My room instantly became pitch black, and I struggled for a moment to find my way to the bed.
“Are you still there?”
“Yep.”
“I think your insanity has officially rubbed off on me.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I’m going to come over tomorrow. And you can show me all of your music and books—and whatever else you brought from Portland.”
“I knew my charm would eventually win you over. It always does.”
I smiled into the darkness. I was thinking strange and exciting new thoughts—thoughts that I had never allowed myself to dwell on before.
“We can’t tell anyone about this. My parents would rip out my lungs if they found out I was sneaking off to your house.”
Jasper laughed at my choice of fate. “Feuding families and sneaking around—classic Romeo and Juliet scenario.”
“Who are Romeo and Juliet?” I assumed he was referring to something forbidden from Oportet.
“Wow. You kids really are deprived of great literature. It’s considered a classic back in the real world. My grandma had me read it a few years ago. She started ranting about how my mom wasn’t giving me a proper education, and that her English professors made her read all kinds of boring shit to make her more intelligent.
“She was the one who got me into reading. It was better than sitting around waiting for the next big catastrophe to happen. People on the Outside may be free, but your parents aren’t lying when they say it’s dangerous out there.” Jasper was very quiet on the other line, and I could sense something very troubling in his voice.
“Dangerous?” I thought this whole time Jasper had been hinting that the Outside was better than Oportet. “I want you to tell me all about it…when we’re sneaking around and such.” I was grinning, expecting Jasper to laugh. He didn’t.
“I’d rather not.”
Suddenly everything was serious, and I had an indescribable feeling of unease in my stomach. It felt like I had somehow dug up something Jasper needed to keep buried.
“What’s your address?” I asked, quickly changing the subject. I used the small lamp on my bedside table for light as I dug around in my backpack for a pen and paper.
“Do you have something to write it on?” Jasper sounded distant.
I grabbed my calculus notebook and pencil after flipping my lamp back on. “Yeah. I’m ready.”
Chapter Nine
I woke up in a deep depression. I didn’t want to eat, I didn’t want to move, I didn’t want to communicate with anyone, and I didn’t want to continue living my life like everything was okay. Nothing was normal anymore. I just wanted to
Similar Books
