HIDDEN (Hidden Trilogy Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

in no time.  I headed toward the main doors without looking back at Cade, who I could feel following me with his gaze.
    There were a few students around, but not many that early.  I made my way to the high school office to pick up my locker combo and schedule.  The staff was nice, maybe a little too chipper for the first day of school, but I hardly paid attention past accepting my combo and schedule.  My mind was still back on Cade and our conversation in the car.  Why was he asking personal questions?  Why did he have to ask THAT personal question? 
    By the time I found my locker and had it open, the hallway was filling up with students.  There were a few curious looks my way but no one made an effort to talk to me.  Which I was fine with.  I wasn’t in the best of mood thanks to Cade.  Speak of the devil , I watched as he stepped up and leaned against the locker beside me. 
    “What was that?”  He asked quietly. 
    “What was what?”  I murmured as I fiddled with things in my locker instead of looking at him.
    “You blew me off.”
    “You were asking questions.”
    “Isn’t that what people do to get to know someone?”
    “Why would you want to get to know me?”
    “I told you, we take care of our own.  I can’t protect you if I don’t know anything about you.”
    “What is with all this talk about protection?  And who said I needed your protection?”  I asked heatedly, but still confused as I looked up at him.  He regarded me steadily before continuing. 
    “I did.  The sooner you accept that the smoother our interactions will be.”
    “I don’t want or need anything from you.”  I said as I slammed my locker shut and squared up with him.  He stood straighter in front of me and gazed down at me intensely. 
    “Are you challenging me?”  He asked.  His voice had dropped and he seemed to have grown in size as he took one step forward into my space.  Something inside me stood at attention and I refused to back down.  That was something I learned at an early age in the foster system.  You back down once and you are the punching bag.  While standing up to others can still lead to being bruised and beat up, at least they know you aren’t an easy target. 
    “Whoa, you two, take it down a notch.”  Cassie interjected as she gently pushed Cade back and faced me.  “What’s going on?”
    “Your brother is pushy and demanding.”  I stated, still staring down Cade, which was a feat when he stood about six inches taller than me.  Cassie snorted.
    “Tell me something I don’t know.”  She looked around and I finally realized the scene we were making in the hallway as other kids stared at us.  I ignored Cade as I half turned and leaned back against my locker.  Cassie sighed before looking back at me.  “What’s your first class?”
    I glanced down at my schedule and replied, “English.”
    “Great!  That’s what I have.  Let’s go.”  She looped her arm through mine and tugged me down the hallway.  I glanced once behind me to see if Cade had moved on, only to find his gaze locked firmly on me.  His brown eyes were doing that penetrating thing again, where they tried to find answers I was unwilling to give.  I turned quickly around and attempted to pay attention to where I was going.  Cassie led me down the hall and swept me into a room that filled up fast.  She snagged a table near the back with two seats and ushered me into the other one.  She didn’t pry as to what went down between her brother and me which I was eternally grateful.  I didn’t know what his problem was and his whole “protector” demeanor was really…well, weird. 
    My first three classes went by easily enough.  Cassie was in the first two with me.  Our second class was art, which had Cade in there with us.  I ignored him as much as I could, which was difficult when Cassie insisted we all sit at the same table.  Since Cassie and I had different third period classes, Cade took it