Riser (Teen Horror/Science Fiction) (Book #1 in The Riser Saga) ((Volume 1)) by Becca C. Smith Page A

personally, would have to pay you back and that’s why I can’t. Thanks though, I really appreciate it.”
“The offer will always be open if you need it.” And he left it at that. Just like Bill: never pushy, never overbearing, just simple and to the point.
We arrived at my trailer and he lowered the hover-car to the ground. Bill quickly exited the car and ran around it to open my door.
“Thanks,” I said, a little embarrassed. He was being extra polite, probably because he felt bad about the whole Ryan debacle. I stepped out of the car.
“Try not to think about it.” Bill tried to make me feel better.
And then he hugged me.
What was going on?
I hugged him back and pulled away, punching his arm to try and re-establish our normal buddy behavior. “See you Monday.”
His face registered disappointment, but he hid it with a smile. “See you Monday.”
Bill got in his hover-car and flew away.
“I thought you two were just friends,” my mom’s voice sounded from the doorway of the trailer.
I turned to face her and she looked angry.
“We are. What’s your problem?” I didn’t like the tone she was using to talk about Bill.
“Get in here.”
I sighed and walked into the trailer. I kept Bruce sitting in front of the holo-tv and intended to keep him there during this soon-to-be painful conversation.
“Bill is a nice guy,” I said. I had this argument with my mom about five times a month. For some reason she didn’t like Bill. Any time I’d mention him she’d ask me if there were any other boys at school that I liked. My reply would always be a groan and a giant no, but it was as if she knew I had a hopeless crush on Ryan and wanted me to do something about it.
“I know you think so, but I don’t trust him. I see the way he looks at you. Aren’t there any other boys at school that you like?”
SEE?!
“Mom, he doesn’t look at me in any way but friendship.” Which was true. Though he did just kiss the top of my head and that hug felt a little too tight.
“I saw that. I know you don’t feel that way about him and you should tell him. Maybe he’ll leave you alone after you deflate his ego a little.”
“Charming, mom.”
“Well… wait a minute. What are you doing home so early?”
Uh oh. Here comes another painful topic.
“I quit.”
“Good. I don’t like you working and going to school.”
What? Not even a why? Or what happened? Just: Good.
“Good? I have no idea where my tuition is going to come from now.” I was a little angry at her response.
“You’ll just have to go to public school like the rest of us did,” Mom said with an air of pleasure.
I couldn’t even stomach the rest of this conversation. “I’m going to bed.”
I stalked past her and went into my room, slamming the flimsy aluminum door. I pulled out my reader, searched the directory for the Scientific Journal and downloaded the study Mr. Alaster referred to today about resurrection. After a few minutes my eyes grew heavy and I couldn’t keep focused on what I was reading. I pulled my comforter on top of me and laid my head on my pillow, falling instantly asleep.

Chapter Two
    Saturday September 18, 2320
I awoke to the sounds of clunking and clacking from the kitchen.
“Mom, seriously?!” I yelled through my wall. She was about to go fuss around in her garden and she was arranging her tools. The reason I knew this was because it had become an annoying Saturday tradition that would never fail to wake me up. She hated it when I slept in late. It was some kind of strange pet peeve of hers.
“Oh, did I wake you? Sorry sweetie,” her muffled voice came through the wall.
“Sure you are,” I mumbled into my pillow.
My mother also knew that once I was up, I was up. I couldn’t go back to sleep.
I suddenly thought of the Science Journal’s report and I had a surge of excitement course through me. Maybe I could find some kind of clue as to how I had my powers. But the last place I wanted to read was in this dingy trailer. I