Out of This World Read Online Free PDF

her, but I’m more mad at myself for getting sucked into thinking it could ever be any different. Tears well up in my eyes but I refuse to cry in front of her.
    I get up from the bed and dress as quickly as I can. She doesn’t look at me. Not while I’m dressing. Not when I pause by the window. She’s probably still staring at the wall after I’ve gone through the window and I’m walking down the street away from the house.
    I make it as far as the park before the full enormity of it all hits me.
    Ampora knows about Theo and me. By tomorrow morning everybody’s going to know about us. Papá will be so pissed off. Mamá will have a heart attack.
    This is almost as bad as being outed as a Wildling. Maybe worse. Becoming a Wildling isn’t something I ever chose.
    Why did I confide in her? What was I thinking? I can’t even threaten her that I’ll tell Papá about her getting mixed up with the Kings yesterday because me being a Wildling trumps that by about a million.
    I sit on a swing and let my feet drag back and forth in the sand as I try to figure out what to do.
    It’s while I’m sitting there that I realize I’m not alone.

I think I’m going to die by the fourth time up.
    â€œRemember,” Tío Goyo says. “The mountain lion is yours to control.”
    I hit a wall halfway up. I’m all set to just say screw it and sit down right where I am, but I don’t want to give Tío Goyo the satisfaction of being right. So I push on, cursing him with each painful step.
    The mountain lion is pissed. It wants to break free and lope up the gulch, then maybe swat Tío Goyo around a few times to let the old uncle know what it thinks about this pointless exercise.
    But as I go back down, I think about it—the faster and stronger element of being a Wildling, but also the increased stamina. So why am I having so much trouble?
    The mountain lion is yours to control .
    Yeah, so? I’ve been controlling it. I haven’t been cheating and shifting to its shape. I haven’t knocked Tío Goyo’s head off. Yet.
    But then I realize I’m not using its full capabilities, either. I can take more from its strength and speed and stamina without having to shift into the full mountain lion shape.
    So, coming up the fifth time, I push through the wall ofexhaustion and actually feel lighter on my feet by the time I get to the top than back when I started. This is cool.
    When I reach the top on my seventh trip, Tío Goyo grabs my arm before I can start back down.
    â€œHow’s that conversation inside your head?” he asks.
    It takes me a moment to get out of the zone and register what he’s asking, then a moment longer to answer.
    â€œWhat conversation?” I ask, grinning.
    He nods. “Good. I think you can stop.”

“So,” I say when we’re back in the shadows of the house across from Josh’s place. “How do we do this?”
    I can’t see the sniper from where I’m standing, but Donalita pokes her head around the corner of the house and assures me he’s still there on the roof.
    â€œI’ve got a great idea,” she says.
    I turn to look at her. She’s got a gleam in her eyes that makes me nervous.
    â€œOkay,” I say. “But it doesn’t involve death or dismemberment, right?”
    â€œWell,” she says, drawing out the word. “Not on purpose.”
    â€œDude!” I start, except then she gets that big grin of hers.
    She holds up a hand. “I know. It’s just a word. Like yo , or wassup .”
    â€œExactly. One I obviously use too much. And you’re changing the subject. What’s your plan?”
    I almost wish I wasn’t asking.
    She leans close, filling my nose with her fruity musk smell.
    â€œYou,” she says, laying her palm on my chest, “walk up to the front door of Josh’s house, all casual, la-la-la, and while BigStupid on