Read Online Disruption by Jessica Shirvington - Free Book Online
Authors: Jessica Shirvington
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weight from foot to foot.
When I didn’t respond, his eyes finally connected with mine and I couldn’t help but notice the dark line that encircled his green irises. ‘I know we’re not … you know … That I’m a …’ He took a deep breath, unable to say the word ‘neg’, and I couldn’t help but feel a tightening in my chest.
Yes, guilt.
Something I just had to deal with.
‘You said that you could … You might be able to …?’ His voice, along with his eyes, dropped away.
‘Have you turned on your Phera-tech since yesterday?’ I asked, working to keep my voice unaffected.
He shook his head.
I let go of the breath I’d been holding, not entirely sure if my relief was about the plan or for myself.
‘We can talk, but only if I have your word that you will never use any of this against me. You’re a Mercer after all.’ I couldn’t hold back the judgement as I hissed the last words at him.
For some reason my attack seemed to settle him, as if it brought him back into familiar territory. Maybe he was used to people pigeonholing him. He threw out a sardonic grin. ‘Do I look like I’m in a position to use anything against you of all people?’
My return smirk was equally mocking. He was so right. The upper hand was right where I had put it – with me.
‘After school?’ he prompted.
I shook my head. ‘I’ve got work. Lunchtime.’
He scouted the immediate area nervously, weighing up whether he wanted to be seen with me or not. According to the rest of the school we might’ve rated well, but he was still an M-Corp heir and I was still … me. His desperation clearly won out because he gave a curt nod and said, ‘Grass by the track.’
Arrogant bastard didn’t give me a chance to agree or disagree, he just spun around and stalked down the hall, making me question yet again what I was getting myself into with Quentin Mercer.
Seven
I vy had wasted no time, rumours already spreading like wildfire that she had rated high with one of her older brother’s friends the night before. It shouldn’t have surprised me when I saw her avoid Quentin in the halls between classes – neg ratings were designed to forewarn people about volatile personality combinations. But still, I was amazed. Had she forgotten so quickly that the two of them had been the perfect couple for the past year? Had she forgotten how she’d hung off his every word?
I shook my head at my naivety. Of course she had. That was the entire point of the ratings system. And Quentin was no different, barely noticing her himself – but then again, his response seemed to be more natural than premeditated.
When lunchtime rolled around, I took my time, stopping by the cafeteria to collect a hotdog topped with cheese, mustard and ketchup. I had a weakness for anything that came with ketchup. By the time I reached the grass strip beside the bleachers he was already there, reading a book.
I craned my head to read the title. ‘The history of Nascar?’ Not what I’d expected.
He closed the book, sliding it under his outstretched legs before he looked up, squinting into the sun. ‘You know there’s no real meat in that thing?’ he said, gesturing to my half-eaten dog.
I shrugged, sitting down beside him, licking a smear of ketchup from the back of my hand. ‘Tastes good, though.’
When I took a bite, his brow crinkled and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
‘Do you really think eating hotdogs will lower my match potential?’
With an obvious effort he relaxed his forehead and sighed. ‘I guess I don’t know anything anymore.’
‘I guess not,’ I replied, pleased that he could at least admit that.
After a few beats of uncomfortable silence, he blurted, ‘Why’d you help me? You don’t even know me.’
‘If I had said out loud that you’d tested neg with me, they would’ve forced the point, asked you to take another reading, and we both know that would’ve tipped you over.’
‘But that doesn’t answer why
When I didn’t respond, his eyes finally connected with mine and I couldn’t help but notice the dark line that encircled his green irises. ‘I know we’re not … you know … That I’m a …’ He took a deep breath, unable to say the word ‘neg’, and I couldn’t help but feel a tightening in my chest.
Yes, guilt.
Something I just had to deal with.
‘You said that you could … You might be able to …?’ His voice, along with his eyes, dropped away.
‘Have you turned on your Phera-tech since yesterday?’ I asked, working to keep my voice unaffected.
He shook his head.
I let go of the breath I’d been holding, not entirely sure if my relief was about the plan or for myself.
‘We can talk, but only if I have your word that you will never use any of this against me. You’re a Mercer after all.’ I couldn’t hold back the judgement as I hissed the last words at him.
For some reason my attack seemed to settle him, as if it brought him back into familiar territory. Maybe he was used to people pigeonholing him. He threw out a sardonic grin. ‘Do I look like I’m in a position to use anything against you of all people?’
My return smirk was equally mocking. He was so right. The upper hand was right where I had put it – with me.
‘After school?’ he prompted.
I shook my head. ‘I’ve got work. Lunchtime.’
He scouted the immediate area nervously, weighing up whether he wanted to be seen with me or not. According to the rest of the school we might’ve rated well, but he was still an M-Corp heir and I was still … me. His desperation clearly won out because he gave a curt nod and said, ‘Grass by the track.’
Arrogant bastard didn’t give me a chance to agree or disagree, he just spun around and stalked down the hall, making me question yet again what I was getting myself into with Quentin Mercer.
Seven
I vy had wasted no time, rumours already spreading like wildfire that she had rated high with one of her older brother’s friends the night before. It shouldn’t have surprised me when I saw her avoid Quentin in the halls between classes – neg ratings were designed to forewarn people about volatile personality combinations. But still, I was amazed. Had she forgotten so quickly that the two of them had been the perfect couple for the past year? Had she forgotten how she’d hung off his every word?
I shook my head at my naivety. Of course she had. That was the entire point of the ratings system. And Quentin was no different, barely noticing her himself – but then again, his response seemed to be more natural than premeditated.
When lunchtime rolled around, I took my time, stopping by the cafeteria to collect a hotdog topped with cheese, mustard and ketchup. I had a weakness for anything that came with ketchup. By the time I reached the grass strip beside the bleachers he was already there, reading a book.
I craned my head to read the title. ‘The history of Nascar?’ Not what I’d expected.
He closed the book, sliding it under his outstretched legs before he looked up, squinting into the sun. ‘You know there’s no real meat in that thing?’ he said, gesturing to my half-eaten dog.
I shrugged, sitting down beside him, licking a smear of ketchup from the back of my hand. ‘Tastes good, though.’
When I took a bite, his brow crinkled and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
‘Do you really think eating hotdogs will lower my match potential?’
With an obvious effort he relaxed his forehead and sighed. ‘I guess I don’t know anything anymore.’
‘I guess not,’ I replied, pleased that he could at least admit that.
After a few beats of uncomfortable silence, he blurted, ‘Why’d you help me? You don’t even know me.’
‘If I had said out loud that you’d tested neg with me, they would’ve forced the point, asked you to take another reading, and we both know that would’ve tipped you over.’
‘But that doesn’t answer why
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