The Survivors Read Online Free PDF Page B

tray.
    Sarah stammers, “I—I just heard someone call my name, you know....”
    â€œGawd, imagine having to sit through a whole lunch period with those freaks,” says another in girl.
    â€œTorture,” another says.
    â€œSo what’s your deal with Ray?” Sarah asks Mackenzie.
    â€œNothing,” Mackenzie says.
    â€œYou’re just mad because he’s never asked you.” One of the girls giggles.
    â€œAsked what?” Sarah says.
    â€œTo pose.”
    â€œPose?” Sarah asks.
    â€œLike, model—so he can draw her.”
    â€œYou mean a life model?”
    â€œHuh?” one of the girls says.
    â€œNude,” Sarah says.
    The table full of girls shrieks with laughter; one of them coughs up food, which only brings more laughter.
    â€œNo, not nude!” Mackenzie says when the girls quiet down. “Though that’s probably what he really wants.”
    â€œHe’s an amazing artist,” one of the girls says softly. “I mean, it was fun letting him draw me.”
    â€œMe, too,” another says. “He’s gonna be famous someday.”
    Mackenzie turns to them with a long glare; they quickly look down at their food.
    â€œSo what did you do in Park Rapids?” Mackenzie says to Sarah. “Any sports?”
    â€œNot really,” Sarah says. “I was homeschooled, actually,” she explains, and rolls her eyes.
    â€œSo why’d you come here?” Mackenzie asks.
    â€œI told my parents I’d sue them if I had to stay at home another year,” Sarah says.
    The girls giggle.
    â€œWell, since you’re here, you clearly need to know stuff about this school,” Mackenzie says. She looks around the cafeteria. “See that cute guy with the buzz cut over there? That’s Django. Isn’t that the coolest name ever? He’s really good at basketball, and we, you know, go out once in a while.”
    â€œThey’re going steady!” one of the girls says, and everyone laughs.
    â€œAnd next to him, that guy in the red T-shirt? He’s Derek.”
    Sarah lets Mackenzie rattle on and concentrates on her lunch. She scarfs down everything. She was never part of the clean-plate club BV (Before Volcanoes), but now, even bad cafeteria food is too precious to be tossed. She puts her tray on the conveyor belt, where all the other plates and dishes are as empty as if a dog has licked them shiny.
    Ray catches up with her in the hallway. “Nice lunch?”
    â€œSort of.”
    â€œSo you’re friends with Mackenzie now?”
    â€œMaybe.”
    â€œI gotta say, they just don’t seem like your crowd.”
    â€œWhat’s my crowd?”
    â€œI don’t know yet,” he says. His dark eyes probe hers; it’s as if he can see all the way through her. He reaches out and puts a finger on the ancient, faded NOFX patch stitched onto her backpack—and also brushes her arm. Her bare skin tingles.
    â€œSo what’s your crowd?” she replies quickly. Her arm burns where his hand touched her, and she feels her face go hot, too.
    â€œProbably not this whole school,” he says quickly with a glance around them. “I’d really like to be at the arts school in Minneapolis; I have my application in.”
    She laughs.
    â€œWhat?” he asks.
    â€œNothing,” she says quickly. “I mean, you do seem sort of … artsy. A guy who wears kilts.”
    â€œIt’s my disguise,” he says.
    She’s totally warm and blushing and very short on words.
    â€œWhat’s yours?” he asks.
    â€œMy disguise?”
    He waits for her reply.
    â€œWhat makes you think I have one?” she throws back.
    â€œEverybody does,” Ray says with his killer grin.

CHAPTER SIX
MILES
    TUNK. TUNK-TUNK .
    At the sounds, Miles drops low behind some brush. He is following the wild dog’s tracks along the riverbank away from his mother, but now he pauses to listen. On