Read Forbidden for Free Online

phrase will be your guiding star when writing papers in this class. Which you are going to start doing tonight. I want a five-page paper on my desk Wednesday morning, detailing your impression of any single event in our country’s history, and how it has affected you as an individual.” Over the chorus of groans, he continued, “If I assigned it for Friday, you’d just put it off until the last minute anyway. So I’m making now the last minute.”
    Without missing a beat, he launched into his opening lecture. Claire began scribbling notes furiously. It was all she could do to keep up. She was relieved when the class ended. Her next three classes—honors Spanish, AP bio, and honors calculus—had teachers who were less strict than Mr. Patterson, and passed by in a blur.
    At lunch, Claire stopped by the administration office to explain about her locker before working her way through the crowd of students to the bustling cafeteria. As she entered the room, the delectable, mingled aromas of baking pizza and chocolate chip cookies enveloped her, making her mouth water.
    Erica, Brian, and Alec were just getting into line together. As Claire joined them, she noticed a pair of freshman girls in the next line over eyeing Alec appreciatively and whispering among themselves—but he didn’t seem to be aware of it.
    “Hey, CB!” Brian greeted her. “Alec said Patterson assigned you a paper already. Due on Wednesday!” He laughed mockingly.
    “Are you still sorry you’re not in the honors track?” Claire responded dryly.
    “Only because it means I’ll probably never make it into Harvard,” Brian sighed.
    “Alec,” Claire said, “I didn’t want you to get in trouble, so I reported that my locker was broken when I found it.”
    “Thanks.”
    “They’re going to assign me another one by the end of the day. So I’ll be out of your hair before you know it.”
    Alec looked disappointed. “All right.” Now at the front of the line, he turned and studied the food on offer.
    The hairnetted man behind the counter smiled patiently. “Pepperoni pizza or the works, take your pick. Otherwise, it’s salad bar.”
    Alec hesitated. “I’ll take salad bar.”
    Claire stared at him. “Are you nuts, or just a vegetarian?”
    “Neither.”
    Claire waited, but he didn’t elaborate further. “Eschew prolixity. Your personal motto, right?” she teased.
    Alec grinned and gave her a nod. Claire caught Erica eyeing them intensely with that Aren’t you two cute? look. Was she jealous or amused? Claire couldn’t tell.
    Brian brashly inserted himself in front of Alec before the counter. “Ignore this man, he’s new and hasn’t had his meds today. He’ll take a slice of each, please.”
    “Wait—” Alec began.
    “You can have rabbit food any day,” Erica agreed, “but trust us: Pizza is the best thing this cafeteria has going. They bring it in from a New York–style restaurant in Brentwood Village, just off campus.”
    Alec didn’t offer up any more arguments. After they all got two slices and their cartons of milk, Claire paused before the snack bar, where an assortment of goodies were for sale. She saw that Erica and Brian had already each bought a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie, but Alec had not, so she grabbed two.
    The foursome made their way across the South Quad, past the tables crowded with the popular, athletic kids. Claire spotted Neil standing by one of the tables. A gaggle of seated girls stared at him dreamily while he chatted with Gabrielle Miller—the star of the girls’ volleyball and tennis teams, and one of the prettiest girls at school. As usual, Gabrielle was wearing an outfit that was worth more than everything in Claire’s closet combined—and looked absolutely great with her olive skin and long, perfectly highlighted chestnut hair.
    As they left the quad, Claire felt a stab of envy. Not for Gabrielle’s money or beauty, but because of the way Neil had been looking at her while they