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I’m
talking about. It’s like nothing I said to you on Saturday sunk in
at all. It’s bad enough you’ve got a Talent, but you’re in Fairview
now. I told you we’ve got way more than other places and it’s
always on people’s minds. I’ve seen way too many kids disappear
because they were careless, because they trusted the wrong people.
So don’t be stupid.”
    “Yep,” she grinned, “you like me. We’re going
to be really good friends.”
    “That’s great,” I said, getting up from the
stone wall we were sitting on, “I always like it better when the
school day ends with a threat.”
    “Hey, you’re funny!”
    “Of course she is.” I cringed the moment
before Marco’s arm landed across my shoulders. “That’s our Joss.
It’s cool that I find you two together, because that means Joss
gets to see more of this unfolding drama.”
    I groaned inwardly. When Marco started waxing
like that it meant he had been thinking too much.
    “What I’ve been thinking,” he continued, as
though he could hear my thoughts, “is that I am now in possession
of valuable information. And before you both insult me by playing
dumb, I’ll spell it out: Kat, here, has a Talent. She blinded Jeff
when she grabbed him this morning.” Marco snickered. “You really
scared the shit out him—for the whole two minutes it lasted. He’s really pissed at you, by the way. He was ready to tell
anyone who’d listen until someone came to haul your ass off to
State School.”
    “Marco, I don’t even know what you’re talking
about.”
    “See, that’s what I mean about the playing
dumb and insulting. But that’s ok, because you’re cute when you’re
helplessly screwed. So, like I was saying, Jeff’s ready to blab
your secret all over town, but don’t worry, because I stopped him
from doing that.”
    I wanted to say Gee that’s nice, or
something snarky, but I couldn’t bring myself to open my mouth.
    “And that’s really nice of me, right? I mean,
standing between you and Jeff like that—well, really, between you
and the State School and who knows what they do there. Seems like
that ought to be worth something.”
    “All this, assuming I had a clue what you’re
talking about, which I don’t.”
    “See, I’m betting that it doesn’t matter if
you admit to what you did or not. Jeff knows you did. I saw you do
it. So what you’ve got to ask yourself is: will anyone believe us
if we tell? Now…you might want to tell yourself that you can toss
your hair and flash a smile and talk your way of—whatever. But
really, we’re talking about two witnesses vs. a suspected Talent
who allegedly used her ability against another
person. I’m thinkin’ that plan’s not going to work too well for
you.
    “So here’s what I’m offering: my silence, and
Jeff’s silence, guaranteed, your freedom and secrecy secure, for
the low, low price of just $500.”
    “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
    “I’m. So. Not.” Marco was dead serious now.
“You think about it. You get the money together. You’ve got two
weeks. Now bye-bye, see ya, wouldn’t wanna be ya!” He ruffled my
hair and pushed at my head as he walked away, enough to make me
take a step to keep my balance.
    “Gawd, what an idiot,” Kat said,
disgusted.
    “What are you going to do?”
    “Nothing.”
    I swear I wanted to grab her and shake. Hard.
“What do you mean, nothing ?”
    “I’m not paying that bastard so he can go
enrich the porn industry, or whatever. Screw that. And screw
him.”
    “Kat…”
    “I don’t know, Joss. I need to think about
this. But I’m not paying him.”
    Suddenly I could tell that she was shaken. I
decided to back off.
    “I could help. I’ve got some money
saved.”
    Kat looked surprised, then smiled, but not as
brightly as she usually did. She touched my arm, briefly. “Thanks,
Joss. That’s really nice. I told you we’d be friends, didn’t I?” A
horn beeped. “Look, that’s my mom. I gotta go.”
    She got in the