At First Touch Read Online Free PDF Page A

attention away from me.
    “So, what does V.J. stand for?” I asked, genuinely curious.
    “Victoria Jocasta.” I raised my eyebrows. “Yeah, I know it’s weird. But there are already about ten girls named Vicky in Pound, so I wanted something different.” She shrugged and took a bite of pizza, looking thoughtful. “I wish I had a normal name like Liz.”
    “It’s a really pretty name At least it’s unique.  You know how many Elizabeths I’ve met?”           
    She glanced up at me, surprised. “I guess I never thought of it that way.”
    From there we carried on a discussion about weird names we’ve heard and how we would change our own. In spite of myself, I was enjoying her quick humor and guileless manner. Wondering what exactly she was doing with three obvious ‘frienemies’ like Chasisity, Jennifer, and Missy, I found myself wishing just this once I could break my rule and become friends with her, as she so obviously wanted.
    We finished eating and Preston was back to giving me his confident smile and friendly chatter. I guessed the absence of his rival had suppressed his possessive nature for the time being, so I was ready to let him show me to my locker. I had no idea where it was.
    As I stood and slung my bag over my shoulder, I was diverted by V.J.’s thoughtful expression. After a moment, she seemed to come to some decision and stood with me.
    “Liz, I was wondering if you’d like to have a tour of the town.  I mean, there’s not that much to see, but if you haven’t had a chance to explore yet, I could show you around.” V.J. looked poised for rejection, and I felt the usual negative response on the tip of my tongue, but something made me pause.
    Why couldn’t I, just this once, have a friend? As long as I was careful and kept her at a distance, maybe I wouldn’t have to spend every evening home alone with other people’s thoughts.  With a sense of recklessness, I agreed.
    “Yeah, that’d be great! I still have some unpacking to do tonight, but starting tomorrow I should be free.”
    Her whole face shone with eager amiability. I got the feeling V.J. was the odd man out in her group of friends and she was just as desperate as me to make a connection. We made plans to meet after school the next day and said a cheerful goodbye as I traipsed along after Preston. I barely registered his running commentary on the different social groups represented at each table we passed, and my attention was only drawn when I heard him give an irritated sigh and halt our progress.
    We had just reached the end of the cafeteria and were ready to enter the maze of hallways again but were blocked by a heated argument between two guys. One of them, a burly, gorilla-like boy was shouting loudly about ‘getting paid’ and swinging his arms around threateningly. Preston rolled his eyes and gestured for me to follow him as he squeezed through the watching crowd behind them. I complied and had almost made it past the group when all hell broke loose.

Chapter 2
    The gorilla-looking guy must have said something to infuriate the other because he, a tall, ungainly boy with a buzz cut, launched himself at his opponent, knocking him backwards and into me. He crashed to the ground taking me with him. In the ensuing skirmish he grabbed a section of my shirt and the fabric ripped, leaving a giant hole along my arm. Gorilla Boy hauled himself off of me without ever seeming to register the fact that he had knocked an innocent bystander over, and swung his massive fist at his attacker. Dazed, it took me a moment to get my bearings and try to get up.
    “Jeez, Liz, are you ok?” Carey’s rich voice penetrated the clamor of cheering students and before I could stop him he took me by the arm, his hand clamped on the exposed skin through my torn shirt, and lifted me onto my feet in one swift motion. My body went rigid with the skin-to-skin contact I so carefully avoid and my mind flew open and let Carey in.
    I was