The Program Page 0,92
do they. I say you go find him. You deserve to live the life you want.” There’s a hint of tragedy in her voice, as if she’s wondered about getting sick again before.
Over Lacey’s shoulder I notice James Murphy watching us, and there’s a twist in my stomach, both anxious and excited. Lacey must read it because she turns around and sees him, and then looks back to me.
“I knew you liked him.”
“No, I don’t,” I answer quickly. “It’s just that he doesn’t seem to want to talk to me, and to be honest, it makes him that much hotter.” We both laugh.
“Well, trust me,” she says, crumpling her wrappers, “James may be hot, but he’s a troublemaker. Someone like him could get you flagged again. So make sure you enjoy him for what he is: eye candy.” She winks and then walks away.
• • •
At the end of the day I’m at my locker, but Kevin is nowhere in sight. I consider waiting for him, but then I realize I’m happy to be on my own. I hurry outside. It’s my handler’s responsibility to find me, not vice versa.
It’s a nice day out. The sun is warm in a cloudless sky and I actually enjoy the walk. A few people look at me, as if realizing I shouldn’t be unescorted, but they still say hi to me. It isn’t until I’m a few blocks away that I realize how truly far my house is. Maybe I should call my mother for a ride.
“Hey. It’s Sloane, right?”
I’m startled by the voice and turn to the street as a car slows next to me. I duck to look in the passenger window and abruptly stop on the sidewalk. “Yeah.”
“I’m James,” he says. “You know, the one you stare at in class.”
My cheeks warm, but I try to play it off. “I don’t stare at you.”
He smiles to himself, clearly knowing that I do. “So can I give you a ride somewhere?”
I’m embarrassed and not sure this is a good idea at all. Kevin had said to stay away from James, that he was on a self-destructive path. “We’re not supposed to talk to each other,” I say.
“Really? Well, if you’d like we can drive in complete silence.”
I laugh, adjusting the strap of my backpack on my shoulder. “This your car?” I ask.
“Nope. Does that mean you’ll get in?”
“I shouldn’t take rides from strangers,” I say. James lowers his eyes, his playfulness fading. “But . . . ,” I continue. “You seem harmless enough.”
He looks surprised. “I do?”
“No. You look like you’re going to cause me a lot of problems. But it’s a long walk home.” I step off the curb and open the passenger door. He doesn’t say anything as we pull away, and when we pass the turn for my house, I don’t tell him. I clear my throat.
“Do you think they follow us?” I ask.
“Who?”
“The handlers.”
James taps his thumb on the steering wheel as he takes a left onto the main road, passing all the car dealerships and restaurants. “Yes. But not today. They all rushed off to the high school, some big incident they’re trying to keep quiet.”
“Is that where my handler went? I thought he just got tired of me.”
“He definitely could have.” James smiles. “You seem like the pain-in-the-ass sort—a twinkle in your eye. But more likely he was Tasing someone in the hallway. He’ll probably drive by your house later. They still drive by mine sometimes.”
“Oh.” I honestly didn’t know that Kevin drove by my house, and it makes me a bit uneasy. “So what do you think they’ll do if they see us together?”
“Nothing. What are they going to do—spank us?” He chuckles.
“They could put us back in—”
“Sloane,” James interrupts. “Are you hungry? Maybe we could hit Denny’s or something. I like pancakes.”
“People will see us at Denny’s,” I answer quietly.
“Right, good point.” He turns to smile at me, but it seems strained, as if his confidence is just an act. “McDonald’s drive-through?”
“Why did you really offer me a ride home?” I ask, my curiosity too much. James has ignored me since standing up for me at the Wellness Center, and now he’s talking to me. Driving me around.
He shrugs. “I don’t know.”
“Then why did you—”
“I really don’t know. I don’t want friends, Sloane. I just want to graduate and get the hell out of here.” He exhales, staring out the windshield. “And then you show up, watching me with your big brown eyes.