The Institute (Falling Ash Chronicles #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

of students taking advantage of the few minutes they had before starting classes for the day. I stalked out, dodging the students on the track and focusing with singular intensity on the large oak tree that was planted at the very center of the courtyard. Several students sat beneath it; more were tangled up in the branches, but I didn’t care. I would climb higher than most of them dared. I knew of a spot where the branches wove together, providing a perfect seat.
    I swung up, bypassing the other students and planting myself on my special spot. I propped my feet up, leaning back against the trunk. I plugged in my ear buds, determined to shut out the rest of the world. I’d barely settled when I felt the branches shaking beneath me, warning me I had a visitor. A clumsy one at that. Irritated, I pried open my eyes. I straightened and let my legs drop as Jonathan swung up to sit on the branch next to me.
    “You better have a dang good reason for bugging me,” I said, letting my legs dangle as I pressed my hands on the branches in front of me.
    “Can you at least try to be civil? We are going to be working together,” he said. I growled low in my throat, my nails digging into the bark, wishing they were wrapped around his throat.
    “This is civil,” I bit out.
    “Hardly. Come on, Ells. When are you going to forgive me? It’s ancient history,” he coaxed, offering the easy grin that usually won people over. Not me. I wouldn’t be fooled by his boy-next-door charm again.
    “I’m not. You can forget it,” I said.
    “Why are you still mad? We’d barely started hanging out.”
    “Two months,” I corrected.
    “Exactly!” he said exuberantly.
    “Two months!” I said, waggling my fingers in his face. “And I wasn’t just hanging out.”
    “Come on. I didn’t mean to hurt you. You can’t have expected me to be exclusive. Stop being so sensitive,” he said reasonably. My nostrils flared, an expression that would have done Meredith proud. You want to know how to make a woman mad? Tell her she’s just being sensitive. That was right up there with “you’re just PMS-y.”
    “I’m being sensitive? Are you kidding me? Get it through your head. I’m not interested. I want nothing to do with you, now or ever. Leave. Me. Alone.” My last words came out as a shout. I’d had enough. My last few precious moments of freedom were ticking away; my limited patience, gone. “You need to go. Right now.” I tucked my earphones back in, closing my eyes as the faint strain of Beethoven filled my ears. Jonathan hooked his fingers around the cords and tugged them out.
    “Give me a break, Ells Bells. Hear me out….” I glared at his use of my nickname, reaching out to snatch my earphones.
    “No. I’m done. We’re finished. Like you said, ancient history,” I reminded him.
    “It doesn’t have to be that way. We can still work it out!” he insisted.
    “There will be no ‘working it out.’ I’m done. Leave me alone,” I said. Realizing he wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon, I abandoned my seat and swung down the branches. I dropped the last few feet to the ground, scurrying in the direction of the safety of the glass doors. I heard him grunt as he half fell, half dropped from the tree, running to catch back up with me.
    “One more chance. That’s all I ask. Please?” he pleaded, reaching out to grasp my hand. I whipped my hand free, furious he would try. He knew I hated being touched. I turned on him, ready to strike out, then thought better of it.
    “One more chance. That’s it?” I said. Jonathan nodded eagerly, sensing he was getting his way. I let my features soften, adapting a considering look. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I was too hasty,” I said. I moved closer to him until our bodies practically touched. I reached out, running my finger down the center of his chest, winding my finger around the string of his jacket and tugging until he leaned closer. His eyes dilated, focusing on my lips. Our