Dirt (The Dirt Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF Page B

takes
a
quick look
back at me realizing
his
insinuation. “No offense.”
“None taken.” He’s right though. Jackson has more talent than
most of the class. Anybody could see it. “Don’t let it bother you.
Maybe, he’s jealous. We haven’t even seen any of his work yet.”
“I can’t drop the class. Guess I’ll tough it out.” And he storms
from the room.
I meet Taylie at The Recess, the local coffee shop. She’s
waiting for me at the table that has become our usual spot. I scope
the room, trying to hide my motives from Taylie, but I don’t see
him.
“Things settle down at home?” she asks.
“Yeah. Still shakes me up a little.” I answer scanning the room.
He’s not here. Well, if he is I don’t see him.
“I’ve
haven’t seen him either.”
Taylie
must notice
my
preoccupation.
I don’t respond and pull an apple out of my bag attempting to
act nonchalant.
“What do you think that was all about, at the library? One
minute he’s following me and the next minute he’s gone,” I ask.
Taylie knows what’s on my mind so there’s no sense in trying to
hide it anymore and she knows a lot more about guys than I do.
“Guys. You can never figure them out. Don’t even try. I wait
for the next one to come along.” She grabs her stuff. “Gotta run.”
Taylie has another class, so I wait for her. After she leaves, I
bury myself in Romeo and Juliet. Taylie isn’t gone long, and I’m
getting into the study mode, when the air around me becomes
warmer and fresher. He’s here. I can sense him. I look up and he’s
pulling out the chair across from me, helping himself to a seat.
“Hi, again,” he says as if he expected me to be here.
“Have you been watching me?”
“I waited for your friend to leave so we could talk.”
“Well, here I am. Alone. Well, technically I’m not alone
anymore.” I start to babble. My nerves get the best of me again.
Palms sweating, heart pounding, and my breath begins to leave me.
“I had to talk to you alone. I heard what happened at your
house last night.”
What did he say? I’m floored and for a moment scared to
death. Chills run down my back and through my gut.
“Who are you? How do you know where I live? No one knows
about last night. Did you...?” I tremble as I sense my wooden chair
softens like quicksand and I sink. My voice shakes as if I’m sitting
naked in below zero temperatures.
“It wasn’t me, but I do know who was there.”
“Who was it? Who are you?” Everyone looks at me. I guess
I’m yelling. “Who are you?” I insist, my voice a little quieter. I
catch the polish of his eyes and suddenly fear rushes from me. For
some strange reason I feel safe with him, but I’m still angry because
he knows something I don’t.
“The Birches. They’re friends of mine,” he explains.
“I’ve never seen you there.” I relax a little more as I lower my
voice.
“They
told me
what happened. Be
careful, Ashe. There
are....well, there are...people out there who will hurt you. Who will
hurt your father.”
“Okay, now you’re really scaring me. Who are you? And what
do you know about the other night? Why are you following me?”
Questions spew from my mouth like word vomit.
He hesitates, “To protect you.” He places his hand on my arm
and looks down at me.
“Why do you need to protect me? You hardly know me.” I rub
my arm still warm where his palm had been.
He doesn’t disclose anything.“Trust me. Can you do that?” His
voice
is
calm
and deliberate, soft but strong, soothing
but
energizing. I only know his name, his first name.
“I trust you,” I say without wavering, without thinking twice.
The quivering is gone. “But I would like some answers,” I add as
my logic decides to become a part of the conversation.
“Not now,” he says.
“I’ve never seen you at the Birches.” I don’t doubt him, but I
try to get some answers and right now it’s like pulling nails from
hardened asphalt.
“I’ve known them all my life,” he