Firstlife Read Online Free PDF Page A

claim the empty table to their right.
    â€œI think I heard the guards say her name’s Bow,” one of them says, not even trying to be quiet.
    â€œIt fits—unlike her uniform. Fatty Bow Batty,” another mutters, spurring outright laughter from his friends.
    Bow ignores them and stirs her slop as if she hasn’t a care. She’s short and big-boned, a little plain, but she’s a person with feelings.
    I find myself snapping, “Integrity matters more than size, dreg.” A derogatory name for someone neither realm wants.
    He blows me a kiss. “Why don’t you come sit on my lap, Nutter? I’ll show you just how sizable I am.”
    Innuendos are always on the menu at Prynne, and I usually overlook them. Today, my fingers tighten around my spoon. We aren’t given forks or knives, ever. Not that it matters. I can do bad, bad things with a spoon.
    I glare at him and say, “Do you like having a tongue?”
    He sticks his out and wags it at me.
    I don’t want to fight him—I’m too sore—but I will. If I lose, I lose, but at least I’ll leave an impression.
    Bow pats my hand. “Forget about him, Sperm Bank. He doesn’t yet understand the outside is a shell for all of us. My beauty is on the inside, where it never fades.”
    She can’t be this nice. She just can’t be.
    The boys return to their conversation, whispering among themselves, pretending what almost happened didn’t almost happen.
    â€œPlus,” Bow adds, “he isn’t even close to my type.”
    â€œWhich is?”
    She wiggles her brows. “Female.”
    Ah. Got it.
    We lapse into silence. I remain aware of the people around us, always on alert, as I clean my tray. Gotta stay as strong as possible. Bow merely picks at the meal. One day soon, hunger will get the better of her and she’ll be thankful for the slop.
    One of the boys is trying to snag a bite off his friend’s tray as we stand.
    â€œTouch my food and die.” The friend’s snarl is pure menace.
    â€œHere. You can have mine,” Bow says.
    The boy scowls at her. “Mind your own business, cow.”
    Trust no one. Question everything.
    She shrugs, unaffected. “Your loss.”
    I’m not sure where to lump her in my mental files. Too good to be true? The real deal? Worth emulating? Or to be disregarded?
    As we file out of the cafeteria, I’m sent to the commons for early morning therapy of the mind— have to get my day started right , I mentally sneer—and Bow is sent to the gym for early morning therapy of the body.
    Sloan shoves another girl out of the way to claim the chair next to me. “You need to put your roommate on a shorter leash.”
    Going to pretend we didn’t threaten each other? Fine.
    â€œI’m not her keeper,” I say. Her actions, her consequences.
    â€œDon’t be stupid,” Sloan snaps. “In this place, your roomie should be your best friend. She’s the one who’s going to watch your back when yours is bruised.” With a smirk, she presses on my shoulder, drawing a hiss from me. “Like now.”
    I bat her arm away, which only makes my pain worse. “I don’t need your advice.” Trust no one...
    â€œObviously you do. Word is, Vans will be gone tonight. Two guards have decided there’s no better time to retaliate against you for choking their friend.”
    I stiffen. The choking incident happened four months ago, and the memory still haunts me. The guard in question snuck into my room. He thought I should earn his goodwill. I thought differently.
    He left in a body bag.
    I didn’t enjoy killing him, even in self-defense, but I also didn’t feel more than a few twinges of remorse. I’ve endured one too many beatings, or maybe I’ve witnessed one too many murders. Kids killing other kids. Guards killing kids. Vans killing James. We’re desensitized fast. Here,