Boom - Sabrina Stark Page 0,24

a lab partner for my senior project in advanced chemistry.

I hated group projects. They were such a pain, especially for me, considering that I needed to maintain a perfect grade-point-average if I wanted to secure that scholarship – a full ride to Michigan State.

In reality, the scholarship was mine already – signed, sealed, and delivered, as long as I didn't blow it during my final semester.

If it weren't for group projects, I wouldn't even be worried.

But now, I was.

And why? It was because I knew exactly how this would go.

When it came to group projects, if anyone in my group ever slacked off, I had to make up the difference.

Normally, I didn't mind as much as you'd think. I mean, if I wanted a bigger reward, it was only natural that I'd need to put in a bigger effort, right?

But today I wasn't in the mood.

So I stubbornly waited, watching the minutes tick by on the big white clock hanging in the school's back hallway. Except for the janitors, I was utterly alone. No surprise there, considering it was Saturday.

Finally, seventeen full minutes after noon, Brody sauntered up looking like he had all the time in the world. He was wearing what he always wore – jeans, a plain T-shirt, and a faded jean jacket.

I was wearing pretty much the same thing, except that my jean jacket was white, and I didn't look half as good wearing it. But Brody Blastoviak – he always looked good, no matter what he wore.

I gave him a quick once-over and mentally checked off the list. Killer body, killer face, killer hair, killer everything.

No wonder everything came so easy for him.

And speaking of killing, I said, "Nice of you to show up."

With a casual shrug, he replied, "Hey, I thought so." He glanced toward the locked door of the chemistry lab. "I figured you'd start without me."

My jaw clenched. That's what they always figured. And they were usually right.

But today, I was too tired and cranky to be a good sport about it. Just yesterday, my mom had rolled into town unexpectedly, bringing with her the usual chaos.

She hadn't wasted any time either. Within hours of her arrival, she'd announced that she was engaged – to some guy named Eddie who'd I'd never met – had hit up my grandparents for money – as if they had any to spare – and had almost made off with my white jean jacket – as if it weren't also my only jacket, not counting my winter coat, which would look ridiculous in April.

And now Brody was frowning. His nose literally wrinkled when he said, "What's that smell?"

Heat flooded my face. The smell was me – or rather, the jean jacket I'd wrestled from my mom just this morning. To Brody, I muttered, "Oh, shut up."

With a crooked grin, he said, "Hey, I'm just asking."

"Well, don't."

Now he looked ready to laugh. "Rough night, huh?"

"What makes you say that?"

"Because you smell like it."

How nice.

He didn't say what "it" was, but I knew exactly what he meant. I smelled like a freaking bar fly. Silently, I added up the aromas – cheap perfume, even cheaper booze, and lots of smoke.

I'd be naïve to think it was only cigarettes.

Last night, within hours of her arrival, my mom had found her way to the nearest dive bar, where she'd apparently had a lovely time, until she'd been kicked out for fighting in the ladies room. Again.

I glanced down at my jacket and felt my own nose wrinkle in disgust. Last night, it had rained, and the jacket was still damp.

But at least she hadn't gotten any blood on it, so hey, it was an improvement over the last time, right?

When I made no reply, Brody said, "If you need a light, let me know."

I wasn't following. "What?"

He reached into the front pocket of his jeans and pulled out a green disposable lighter. He flicked it to life and held it out near my face.

I gave the flame an annoyed look. "In case you didn't notice, I don't actually have a cigarette." Under my breath, I added, "Or anything else, for that matter."

"So?"

"So I don't need a light."

"Eh, your loss," he said, flicking off the lighter and lowering it to his side.

With growing irritation, I said, "You do know, I had to get special permission to use the lab today."

This wasn't even a good thing.

All of our classmates had completed the experiment on Thursday. But not us. And why? It was because