At First Touch Read Online Free PDF Page B

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    “Carey, will you escort Miss Hannigan to the nurse? I’ve got to go deal with this,” the principal said, gesturing absently at the dispersing crowd.
    “Sure thing, Mr. Paulson.” Carey held his hand out to me easily enough, but I caught the wariness behind his eyes. I pushed myself to my feet without aid and stood swaying a moment as my head gave a pang at the change in position.
    “Thanks for helping out again, Carey. I tell you, I don’t know what we’re going to do around here when you graduate.” Mr. Paulson clapped Carey on the shoulder and turned to me. “Miss Hannigan, I hope you feel better. If you change your mind about pressing charges let me know. If you end up having to go to the doctor, you may want to think about it.” I nodded agreement just to get him off my back. “Very well. I hope this doesn’t ruin your first day with us. Come see me if you need anything.” Finally, he spun on his heel and stalked down the hall to the main offices. Carey and I were left in the emptied hall staring awkwardly at one another.
    I was at a loss for words. The things I had seen in his memories left me confused and a little frightened. I was concentrating very hard on keeping the link between our minds closed, hoping I could write the whole thing off and avoid him from now on, no matter how gorgeous and charming and enigmatic he was.
    With a little shake, Carey seemed to pull himself out of his thoughts and he gave me a knee-wobbling smile. “Can I take your arm? To help you keep steady?” he asked politely, extending his arm to me again.
    I shook my head and winced. After another wave of nausea I replied, “No, that’s ok. I can make it. Which way to the office?” He pointed to our right. “Ok, well, I’ll be fine. I don’t want to keep you.” I started on my way, using the wall for support.
    “I think I’d better make sure you get there alive.” Carey strode at my side, not touching me but holding himself ready to catch me if I stumbled. I focused extra hard on putting one foot in front of the other.
    We walked in silence, though I could feel his eyes on me and knew he was pondering that startling moment when I downloaded his mind. It was strange; no one had ever noticed me in their head before and I was more than a little freaked out by it. As we walked I was constructing arguments for leaving Pound as soon as possible to present to my Dad that night.  I had known coming to such a small town was a bad idea, but he had insisted it would work, that it would be easier to hide. After today, I wasn’t so sure.
    “You look like you’re thinking very hard about something.” I glanced up to meet Carey’s interested look. I shrugged.
    “Just wondering how to explain all this to my Dad,” I answered truthfully. He didn’t need to know what I wanted to explain.
    “Well, I mean, it’s not like you were in the fight or anything.” He gave me an amused look. I waved my hand dismissively.
    “No, not that. He’s just very…protective of me. He will take this very seriously.” Carey nodded his dark, shining head. A smile creased his face and his eyes flashed playfully.
    “Well, you can tell him you’ve got yourself a bodyguard.” He winked, and despite the corniness, I felt a smile tug at my lips. Whatever I had downloaded from him could just stay filed away for now. He had clearly dismissed the moment our minds connected as a fluke and I thought I could safely stay in his company. After all, the brief flashes I had examined told me that he was a singularly selfless person, not likely to do me any harm.
    “Well, that should ease his mind considerably.” The corners of my mouth lifted and I felt almost normal with this boy.
    “Here we are. Prepare yourself. Nurse Nora is a little…different.” I had just enough time to raise my eyebrows before a white door with the label ‘Nurse Nora’ on it swung open.
    “Oh, Carey, honey, is this her? You poor thing, getting knocked down in a fight