The Bodies We Wear by Jeyn Roberts Page B

chance.”
    “That makes no sense.”
    “I’m complicated that way.”
    Chael reaches into his pocket and pulls out some cash, which he tosses on the table. Standing, he smiles down at me but shakes his head when I make a motion to stand.
    “Stick around, why don’t you?” he says. “Take a break tonight. Let the bad guys rest. No one will die tonight if you’re not around. I promise.”
    I give a short choking laugh. “What makes you think I’m after bad guys?”
    “You’re after Rufus and his friends,” Chael says. “That’s why you’re always outside the bar. You’re studying him. Waiting for him to make a mistake. Maybe even waiting for the perfect opportunity. But you’re not going to get them first. They’re mine.”
    I’m halfway out of my seat but he pushes me back down with his arm. I’m so surprised that I let him do it. “How do you know—”
    “I know a lot about you, Faye,” he says as he heads over toward the door. “You don’t want to go down this path. Trust someone who knows. Leave Rufus to me. You don’t need that revenge. It’s not your salvation.”
    “Who are you?” I scream after him. A few other patrons look up from their dinner stupor in shock.
    Chael stops, his hand resting on the door handle. “Blue skies. You’ll figure it out. It’s okay, honey bunny.”
    And he’s gone. Just like that.

Five
    Sleep doesn’t come easy. I can’t stop thinking about Chael. How does he know so much about me? Have I been wrong all along? Do they know who I am? Have they been waiting for me to slip up all this time? If so, why are they sending Chael after me and not coming themselves? Surely, I’m not so intimidating that they’ve had to hire someone to take me out. Rufus may be a coward but I know from experience that he likes to deal the death blow himself. Especially when it comes to young girls. Didn’t he already prove that six years ago?
    So why Chael?
    I’m a wreck when I finally drag myself out of bed for school the next morning. There are dark marks under my eyes and my cheeks look more hollow than usual. I can barely keep my brain focused as I pour my morning coffee. Half of it ends up on the floor and I have to hunt around for some towels. It’s mornings like this that I wish either Gazer or I were a little more practical in the cleaning department.
    The church feels damper than usual this morning if that’s even possible and I’m shivering in my workout clothes as I start my warm-ups. Gazer is still mad at me and he shows that anger through our workout, forcing me to do the most mundane and physically challenging tasks. Push-ups. Sit-ups. One hundred squats and then a five-mile run before I’m allowed breakfast. I do it all without complaining and I don’t say more than a few words to him. Our anger works both ways.
    I barely make it back in time to have a quick shower and head off to school.

    Paige is waiting by my locker. I spot her in the distance and immediately look around guiltily to see if any teachers have noticed. No adults in sight. That’s a good sign but at the same time I’m wondering why I’ve bothered being so careful these past few years. No one seems to be paying attention to me in the slightest. It’s been a complete waste of time being in this paranoid state.
    Even if the teachers have become more relaxed, I will continue to follow the rules. I don’t want to get kicked out of school. It’s important to me. It’s the only link to normalcy that I have. Without it, I’m not sure who I’d be left with.
    A monster.
    “Hey,” she says when I approach.
    I nod at her, brushing past to get to my locker. There could be security cameras. I ignore her as she waits for me, hovering at my back to get a peek at the contents. There’s nothing there to impress her. No mirror. No token gifts from boys. No stickers, pictures, or any of that crap that the other girls seem to love. My locker is like a prison cell, bare and lifeless.
    “You don’t