Resistance (The Variant Series #2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

didn’t look up.
    “We have nothing to talk about, Jessica,” Alex managed. “I told you before, Connor’s all yours.”
    Jessica’s fake laughter trilled in her ears. “Oh, Alex. This isn’t about Connor .” She dragged out the words, her tone acrid. “This is about Veronica.”
    The brush in Alex’s hand froze mid-stroke.
    “You remember her? Five-two, dark hair. Used to be in this very class with us. Sat right over there, next to Marcie.” Jessica nodded toward Marcie, still seated at her workstation on the other side of the room. “You do remember Vee, right?”
    Alex swallowed hard.
    “Yeah,” Jessica said slowly. “You remember Vee. Funny how the rest of the world seems to have forgotten about her. Did you know someone covered it all up? The official report says she ‘ drowned at sea .’ That it was all just some tragic accident. Never found her body, of course. How could they? There was hardly anything left of her, after…” she trailed off. “And her parents… her little sister… they’ll never know the truth.”
    Reaching forward, Jessica picked up the mask, careful to avoid the wet glaze.
    “My friend,” she said carefully, “is dead , Alex. She was burnt alive, right in front of my eyes. And I can’t tell a soul about it.”
    Jessica turned the mask over in her hands, inspecting the piece before placing it back on the table in front of Alex.
    “My friend is dead,” she repeated. “And that’s on you.”
    Alex finally looked up. A cold fire was burning in Jessica’s mascara-lined eyes.
    “I don’t know what you’re involved with, Alex, and I really don’t care. All I care about now, is making you pay for what happened to my friend.” Jessica slipped off the stool. “And believe me, Lexie … you will pay.”
    Jessica reached out and snagged the edge of the tray filled with Alex’s work. It clattered to the floor with a resounding crash, most of the pieces shattering on impact.
    Alex bit down on her lip.
    An entire semester’s worth of her artwork was now scattered across the worn linoleum.
    “That was for Vee,” said Jessica, stepping over the mess and striding around to the other side of the table.
    The entire class had halted their work and now sat watching Jessica as she leaned across the table and smiled at Alex. She flicked the bottle of ceramic glaze and it tipped over, sending a wave of chalky paint across the mask and straight into Alex’s lap.
    Jessica grinned sweetly as she stood back up. “And that was for me.” She started back toward her workstation. “See ya ’round, Alex.”
    The bell rang.
    Alex sat frozen, staring at the mask in front of her, all of her intricate designs now concealed beneath a thick, bubble-filled swath of glaze.
    Oblivious to the exchange, Coach Roberts poked her head into the classroom long enough to tell them they were dismissed before disappearing back into the kiln room.
    All around her, students were cleaning up, stowing their work trays and exiting the room, eager to head home.
    No one spoke to Alex. No one even looked at her.
    She was still sitting there silently when the room finished emptying and Declan walked back in.
    “Jesus, Alex… are you okay?” He came to a stop beside her and paused to take in the scene. “What the hell happened?”
    Alex didn’t answer.
    Declan reached out and caught her gently by the chin, turning her face so that he could look her in the eye.
    She jerked away from his touch before the transfer could begin.
    “Did Jessica…?” he trailed off.
    Alex felt warm tears burning behind her eyes and slammed them shut before any could escape.
    “Here,” Declan placed the wet rag he’d been using earlier into her hand before kneeling to pick up the shattered remains of her work.
    Alex opened her eyes and focused on her breathing.
    In.
    Out.
    In.
    She held her breath for a few long moments.
    Out.
    Alex steeled herself as best she could. She gripped the rag tightly. For the next few minutes, she