Page 3 of Race to Me

Two

The remainder of class was spent with me gathering information for our project while Foster stayed on his phone, texting. From the looks of his lack of help during class, it seems like I’ll be the one handling all the work.

Once the bell rings, I pack up my things and head into the hall, keeping the project papers in my hand to go over them during my next period. I doubt another teacher will assign such an important assignment on the first day.

It’s not long before Foster is beside me, his long legs taking short strides to keep pace. “Here’s my number,” He places a crumpled paper in my hand.

“I have a boyfriend.” I lie, not wanting to be rude to him. Why would he even give me his number when he was so rude?

He stops walking, and his black boots squeak against the tile floor. “Does he want to help us with our project, or?” I’m an idiot, and his amused smirk reminds me of that.

I shake my head, a blush of embarrassment burning my cheeks. “I thought I would be the only one doing anything.”

He slowly leans forward, plucking the papers from my hands and making my back press against the chilling hallway wall. I have to look straight up to see him.

Foster’s neck is craned downward, and his black eyes drink me in. Such an unusual shade for someone’s eyes; endless, but also intriguing. A sinister spider is tattooed on his neck, its legs creeping around his skin, seeming to suffocate him. But that’s silly; it’s just a tattoo. “Why would you think that?” His breath is minty, and it tingles against my skin.

“You didn’t seem interested in class.” Besides the mint, he smells of smoke, leather, and trouble. The kind of trouble I’ve never seen in person before. The kind of trouble that would have my parents carrying me back to Crestview if they saw how close we were right now.

I jump a little when he plants his palm against the wall, trapping me in, and leans closer. His gaze travels slowly from my ankles to my eyes, “It’s the first day of class. We have plenty of time to get it done.” For a moment, everything around us goes still as he looks down at me. I try to read him, and I notice the faintest hint of something lays in his obsidian eyes. But as quickly as it shows, it’s gone.

His expression hardens, and the bustling noise of the crowded hallway returns to my mind. “Or you can just do it yourself, little miss perfect.” He pushes himself off the wall, turning away from me.

I roll my eyes behind his broad back as he walks away. “Okay, Foster.” I try to sound rude, but it comes out in a normal tone. I wish I was more equipped to handle angry, ridiculous people, but I’ve never had that ability.

His boot hits the ground with a thud. He doesn’t turn to look at me when he replies, “It’s Ghost.” I don’t have time to react as he walks off.

Brett catches me off guard, wrapping my body into a tight hug. I wince when his fingers graze my aching ribs. “You okay?” he asks in a concerned tone as I stretch my stiff body. He looks worried about me, but I don’t miss the grimace he gives to Foster’s back while we walk down the hall.

“Yeah! I fell during practice this weekend.” The ache throbs, but nothing a little ice bath won’t take care of. “I don’t want to fly anymore. I’m too clumsy.” I joke.

“Will you be healed enough to cheer for me this weekend?” His smile takes up his whole face, as it always does.

“I’ll be good as new.” I promise him. I know how excited he is for me to be on the cheer team at his school. We never got to go to each other’s games before since private schools only played private, so that’s something I’m looking forward to if I have to cheer.

It’s something I’ve done my entire life, and I didn’t want to join when I transferred but my mom wasn’t having it. I can hear her words of wisdom in my ear even now, ‘‘It’s a family tradition, honey,’ along with, ‘‘You know you’ll regret not making those bonds.’’

She’s not wrong, of course. I met Kate at a summer cheer camp in elementary school, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. I just wish she was still into it so I wouldn’t be cheering with a bunch of strangers. But I know this is the best way to make new friends, and I’m pretty good at it. I just need to be more careful; a clumsy girl that twirls in the air is a dangerous combination.

As we round a corner, I realize with absolute horror that Foster pulled the paper from my hands before he walked away. I have to get started on that project as soon as I get home. I’ve never had a bad grade in my life. I won’t start now; I can’t.

I look around for him, but he’s long gone.Shit. How do I find him? Look for a motorcycle in the parking lot? Stereotypical, but probably true.

Brett draws me back to attention, “Where’s your mind?”

“Huh?” I look up, noticing that we’ve stopped walking and I was staring into space. I wave my hand, “Trying to figure out how to find that Foster guy.”

“Ghost?”

“Yes! Do you know his schedule?” I pull out my notes, “If I could find him before the end of the day, I can get the paper—”

Brett nods, leaning into my hair. “Stay away from him.”

“Reason?” I turn to him, my brows pushing together in confusion.

He gestures between us. “People like us and him ... we don’t mix.”

“We have a project.” I wave the number Foster gave me between us. Brett grabs it, rips it in half, and the contents float to the floor.

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