Read Online Book of Revenge by Abra Ebner - Free Book Online Page A

going.”
    I shut my eyes, despising Mr. Jackson even more than I did the day he challenged me for answers on the renaissance—non-stop—as though he knew I could read his mind and he was testing that hypothesis. The whole class stood, quickly pairing up with best friends. Jake stood, grappling his books and nearly tripping over every one of the three desks between us before reaching me.
    “Shall we go to the library?” he asked.
    Jake was breathing hard, the wind of it falling against my skin. Swallowing hard, I refused to breathe through my nose. I didn’t want to know what his breath smelled like, and though I tried not to, I imagined it to be something resembling last night’s macaroni. I shivered, thinking that I needed a shower as soon as I got home.
    “ Uh… Sure,” I replied through clenched teeth. At least there would be more clean, fresh air to be shared in the library.
    I grabbed my bag off the back of the chair, following him out the door.
    He walked beside me down the hall, his stride suddenly more confident. “This assignment should be easy.”
    I lifted one brow. “You could say that.” Easy to him was finding the answer, but to me there was nothing easy about it. It was Jake, and I had to be his partner.
    “I’m a Santé,” he went on. “My ancestors are from South America. Being a native, we know a lot about the invasion of the Conquistadors.” He cleared his throat. “It’ll be like talking at a family reunion.” His voice had suddenly grown deeper.
    I nodded arbitrarily. “Great,” My voice was flat, too distracted by my determination not to breathe through my nose and the sudden change in his voice.
    Jake snorted, his back no longer hunched over and his movements smooth. “I get it, Emily. I know you’re not impressed by me.”
    I was shocked by his directness, and I suddenly felt bad. “No, it’s not…” I clenched my fists. I’d never made fun of him—at least not like other people did.
    “I don’t have many friends, not here at least.”
    I wanted to drop dead with guilt, but I couldn’t tell if making me feel bad for him was his ploy or not. Searching his mind, it didn’t offer any answers. I stared at him boldly, concentrating as hard as I could.
    Stop that.
    I heard his voice inside my head. My shoulders jerked back and I halted in the hall. “What?” I gaped.
    Jake turned and looked over his shoulder. “What?” He shrugged. I know what you’re doing.
    There it was again. I blinked, further shocked. “Wait, how did you…” I stopped myself, not wanting to sound crazy.
    Because.
    I stood frozen, glaring at his eyes behind his giant black frames. “How did you do that?” I demanded this time, convinced this was real.
    He leaned casually against the lockers. “Do what?” This?
    “Yeah, Jake, that. How’d you talk in my head?”
    “What are you talking about…” Crazy? he challenged.
    Half his words were out loud, the other half in my mind, but it was hard to discern which was which. “I’m not crazy.” I hated when people called me crazy.
    His face was emotionless for a moment, but then a smirk grew across his cheek. “What? You thought you were the only one?”
    My brows stitched together. “What do you mean?”
    Mind reader?
    “I’m not a mind reader!” I squealed, my voice trying to remain low.
    “Right, so then what was that? How did you hear me? If you weren’t a mind reader you wouldn’t have heard me.”
    “Shut up, Jake.” I crossed my arms against my chest, turning away from him. I wanted to go back to class and demand I get a new partner.
    “Wait,” I felt him grab my arm, his touch shockingly hot.
    I stopped, unable to wriggle free from his burning grasp. “Let go!”
    “Just… chill out, okay?” He was leaning close, his voice a whisper.
    “It’s sorta hard to chill out when you feel like fire!” I spat.
    “Try.” Jake’s tone had changed completely. The raspy, asthmatic breathing was gone.
    My chest was heaving, and