Feudlings by Wendy Knight Page A

Ari could see the retired marine in him. She raised her hand in response.
    “Charity Delyle.”
    “Here,” Charity said, her voice soft and sweet.
    “Shane Delyle.” Shane threw up a lazy hand and Ari could swear every girl in there sighed dreamily. Good grief.
    “I won’t see you two walking in late again, I assume,” the teacher said, peering over his bifocals with stern green eyes.
    Shane nodded.
    Mr. Greene turned his gaze on Ari and she realized he was waiting for her to agree. She sucked down the urge to tell him if the school’s layout made any sense whatsoever she wouldn’t have been late in the first place, but talking like that had gotten her hit by many of her grandfather’s weird curlicue spells. She had learned that for some reason, most adults do not like to be argued with. Baffling. Instead she just nodded, but couldn’t help it when she met his glare. He scowled at her for a minute and then returned to the roll.
    “You again,” Hunter grunted from her other side. She hadn’t even noticed him when she walked in late, but now she spared him a look before glancing away.
    “I was thinking the same thing,” she replied, eyes on the teacher. Shane threw a frustrated glare at Hunter, and Charity looked amused. Hunter pretended not to notice either of them, and Ari did the same.
    They passed out textbooks and dove right in. History was Ari’s favorite subject. Regular Normals history, at least. Edren history, not so much.
    Her textbook was battered; it had seen better days. That’s what happens when you sit at the back of the class — the kids at the front got the good books , Ari told herself.
    Mr. Greene launched into his lecture, and Ari leaned forward to take notes, letting her hair fall forward to block out Charity and Hunter on either side. For the next forty-five minutes she didn’t have to worry about being the new kid or the fact that everyone was staring at her battered face. Instead, she was lost in the world of prehistoric peoples, and that was a much better trade.
    It was a rude awakening when the bell rang and everyone jumped up to leave. Ari sighed, stuffed her books in her bag, and dug out her schedule. Next she had a free period, which she was supposed to spend in the library. That would be great, if she had any idea where that was.
    “Were you planning on being enthralled with the hallways parallelism again or can I help you find your next class?” Ari looked over into those blue eyes and had to fight to breathe. Shane squatted next to her desk, peering up at her.
    Ahem. She cleared her throat. And then cleared it again. “Well, since the halls all seem the same it would be pointless, in my opinion, to continue comparing them. You’ve seen one you’ve seen them all, right?” As Hunter appeared at Shane’s side with his usual scowl, Ari said, trying not to sound desperate, “Could you just point me in the right direction? And the right floor would be helpful too.”
    Charity’s silver laugh tinkled behind her, and she leaned around Ari to take her schedule. “The library. It’s on the second floor. Right in the middle of everything.”
    “And right on my way to my next class. I’ll walk you.” Shane rose to his feet.
    “It’s not even close to your next class. Your next class is across the hall from here,” Hunter said, still glaring at Ari. She raised an eyebrow. Shane glanced at him, annoyed, and Hunter shook his head and stalked off.
    “I don’t need you to go out of your way. I’ll be able to find it.”
    “It’s not out of his way. Shane’s getting chubby. A little walk will do him good.” Charity smirked, poking her cousin’s flat belly.
    Shane rolled his eyes. “You’re a barrel of laughs, Char.” Then to Ari he said, “Do you think I’m getting chubby?”
    Ari ignored him and picked up her bag.
    “You’re gonna make me late. Again,” she called over her shoulder as she headed for the door. She glanced over her shoulder in time to see Shane