Read Malice for Free Online Page A

I pressed.
    “Pretty sure.”
    The rest of the drive was filled with awkward silence. That in itself was strange. Tristan and I always had something to say to each other. We parted ways with an equally awkward goodbye.
    I was frowning by the time I reached my locker. The cookies were churning and I had to admit that Tristan was probably right. I should’ve saved them for lunch. That had to be why I felt so sick to my stomach. No one should ingest that much sugar so early in the morning.
    “Are you okay?” Finola asked as she sidled up beside me.
    “Never better,” I mumbled.
    “Oh, Sam,” Finola sighed. “When are you going to do something about this?”
    “About what?” I asked.
    “You know.”
    I glanced at her and she made a face and pointed toward Tristan’s locker. My gaze had been locked onto it only moments before. I’d been caught staring and it wasn’t the first time.
    “No, I don’t know.” Of course, I knew exactly what she was talking about.
    “I realize that you’re kind of in denial here. But we all know how you feel about him. Why not just admit it?”
    What would be the point in that? I couldn’t ask Finola, though. Because if I did, it would be as good as admitting that she was right. If I didn’t say the words out loud, I could pretend they didn’t exist.
    Yup, definitely in denial.
    “You know,” I began, “you’re really one to talk. Are you ever going to tell Al—”
    “Sam!” she cried as she glanced around frantically.
    I had kept my voice low. No one had heard. It took her a moment to ascertain that. When she leveled her gaze back on me, she wore a frown. “You want me to tell him? I thought you didn’t want me to have anything to do with him.”
    I shrugged. “Maybe I’ve had a change of heart.”
    “Since when?” she asked suspiciously.
    “Last night. I had a little chat with Magnolia about Leo.”
    “Magnolia has a crush on Leo?”
    “No,” I said as I gave her shoulder a nudge. “She’s only six. But she considers him a friend. I was being unfair about…” My eyes darted around. The hallway had become a lot more crowded in the last few minutes. “ You know who . I don’t have a right to form an opinion of him. I don’t even know him.”
    She leaned away from me, as if she needed to make sure it was really me she was talking to.
    “Well, thanks for that. I guess,” she muttered.
    A light touch burned down my arm. I glanced over to find Tristan standing next to me. I knew he couldn’t have been there very long. He let his hand fall to the side but my skin still tingled where his finger had touched.
    “You’re still picking me up tomorrow morning, right?” he asked as he slowly walked backward. The bell was going to ring any minute.
    I was sure that was his way of asking if everything was still okay with us.
    I nodded. “Of course.”
    He gave a little wave and a smile before spinning around and disappearing into the crowd.
    I glanced at Finola. The look she wore was positively smug.
     
    ~ *~*~
     
    I slowly stacked my books back into my locker. They kept tumbling out because I wasn’t watching what I was doing. Usually, I raced out of school at the end of the day. Not today, though. Today I was taking my time.
    Finola and Daphne usually rode together and they’d already left.
    The hallway had cleared out. I had a clear view of Tristan half a hallway away. He was leaning against his locker, laughing at something Julie said.
    She looked adorable in her ballet flats, plaid pleated skirt and pale peach sweater set. She looked out of date, out of style…and like a completely perfect match for Tristan who was in his usual khakis and button down shirt.
    I glanced down at my own attire. I had on worn, faded jeans and a long sleeved gray t-shirt. I was hardly the pinnacle of fashion myself. That was Daphne’s forte and I could never compete with her so I decided to not even try.
    Julie lifted her hand to his elbow in a gesture that could’ve been