Read Online Galdoni by Cheree Alsop - Free Book Online Page A

our
unscheduled time that makes us who we are.”
    “ It feels unstable, like
there’s too much choice and opportunity to mess up.” I glanced at
the books. “But I think I finally understand what Benjamin Franklin
meant when he said, ‘Those who can give up essential liberty to
obtain a little temporary safety-‘”
    “‘ Deserve neither liberty
nor safety,’” Dr. Ray finished with an approving smile. “Yes,
liberty is bought at a high price, but in the end you’ll see it’s
highly rewarding as long as you learn to spend your time
wisely.”
    “ Something that’s never
been my own ‘til now,” I mused. “It’ll take some getting used
to.”
    Brie walked in the front door with Jayce
close behind. “What will?”
    “ Time,” the doctor and I
said together.
    Jayce gave a dramatic sigh.
“Don’t tell me Dr. Ray is catching you on and off the clock with his
professional rants.”
    The doctor gave him a patient smile. “The
things you could learn if you but had the patience to sit and
listen, Jayce.”
    “ I do way too much sitting
and listening in school as it is to hear more of it when I’m home.
Do you want to wear Kale out on his first day?”
    “ Jayce,” Brie
chided.
    Dr. Ray rose from his seat and patted her
shoulder. “No worries. For a student interested in law, Jayce has a
fairly flippant attitude toward the educational system. We’ll just
hope it doesn’t rub off on his feelings toward true justice.”
    Jayce grinned and ran a hand through his
blond hair. “It already has. Why else do you think I plan to minor
in drama? I’m going to need some help acting interested in some of
those ridiculous cases. Justice? More like waa-fest,” he concluded
with a dramatic sigh. He fell on the couch and glanced over at me.
“Speaking of justice, Kale’s been rubbing elbows with Dane
Daniels.
    Dr. Ray’s eyebrows rose. “Rubbing elbows?”
He turned to me. “You mean fighting?”
    Jayce laughed. “I don’t think I’d call it
fighting. More like Dane throwing punches and Kale redirecting him
to the floor.”
    Dr. Ray frowned. “School bullies are
something I didn’t plan on.” He glanced at me. “You managed to keep
from killing him?” His tone was only half-joking.
    I nodded. “Dane obviously hasn’t had any
training, and I just let his momentum carry him into a locker. It
was kind-of refreshing knowing I could beat him and not doing it,
if that makes any sense.”
    Nikko walked into the room. “If what makes
any sense?”
    “ Kale was just telling me
about Dane,” Dr. Ray explained.
    Nikko nodded with a concerned frown. “I hope
Dane can be smart enough to back down when he knows he's
over-matched.”
    The doctor shook his head. “Lucky for us,
Kale has self-control to counter his lethal training, but I need
the rest of you to act as a buffer between him and the rest of the
school. Dane shouldn’t have been able to get near him in the first
place.”
    “ Sorry, Dad,” Nikko
apologized. He looked at me with a hint of awe in his eyes. “But
Dane came looking for a fight and Kale's instincts were to protect
Jayce; he shut him down before any of us could move.”
    It was weird to watch Nikko and Jayce defend
me even though I was in the wrong and knew it. My instinct was to
take down an attacker regardless of his target; Jayce just got
lucky, but I couldn't bring myself to tell them that.
    Dr. Ray frowned. “You never know what course
of action a bully will take, especially when his pride’s at stake.
Promise me you’ll keep Kale out of his way from now on.”
    Brie and Nikko nodded with apologetic
expressions; Jayce sighed as though he had enjoyed seeing Dane meet
his match, but at the doctor’s look, he quickly agreed.
    Dr. Ray turned back to me. “Let’s check your
wings. It’s time to change the dressings and I want to test your
range of motion.” He walked to my room and left me to follow.
    Brie gave me an encouraging smile. I took a
deep breath and crutched after the