Page 109 of Zero Chance

There was a single moment of utter silence—the quiet before the storm—and then I shouted, “No!”as I dived in front of her just as the dozens and dozens of books started to fly forward, all of them aimed at Waverly’s face.

25

KEENE

Only about two books actually hit me, slapping off my lifted arms before my mother immediately called them off.And just like that, they fell limply to the floor in front of us, their covers clapping loudly against each other as they landed in a heap.

I exhaled, relieved nothing had ended in disaster, and I spun to Waverly.“Are you okay?”

Tremors wracked her as she stood there, gaping at the books on the floor that had just tried to kill her.Her eyes were wide and glazed with shock, and all the color had drained from her face.

“Waverly?”I said, going easy so I didn’t startle her while she was in this state.But the moment my fingers barely brushed her elbow, she gasped and wrenched her arm back.

Fear glazed her features as she looked up at me, and I could tell it wasmeshe was frightened of.

“No,” I tried to reassure her.“Don’t freak out.It wasn’t—” But she didn’t stick around to listen to an explanation.This time, when she ran, there was no way I could catch her before she shot past me and sprinted for the stairs.

“Frankie!”I called, knowing I couldn’t just leave things like this.She was scared.She was upset.She could hurt herself.

I started after her, only to trip over all the shit on the floor.

“Pick this up,” I snapped irritably at my mother, only to notice Waverly’s book bag from when she’d set it down.

Snagging the strap, I slung it over my shoulder with my own backpack and leaped over half a dozen books to rush toward the stairs as well.

By the time I reached the front door, I was sure she was going to be gone, but I was relieved to see her across the quad, streaking toward the entrance of the English building.

Picking up my pace, I rushed after her.

But once I stepped inside McDowell Hall, I ground my teeth in irritation.One big, long hall stretched in front of me while most of the students pouring toward the exit were coming down the steps that were set off to the side.She could’ve gone either way.

“Hey,” I asked one of them, catching their arm.“Did you see a girl—about this tall, with dark hair—come through here?Moving fast.”

All I got was a head shake and a brush-off as they moved on.Fuck.

So I rushed to someone else, one of the few people who’d been walking down the freaky, long hallway and not taking the stairs.

This guy snorted.“Oh yeah.I don’t know what she ate for lunch, man, but from the way she hauled ass into the bathroom, I’m gonna say it didn’t sit well.”

“Thanks,” I told him, slugging the side of his arm companionably before marching down the hall to find the door to the women’s bathroom.

There, I waited for the hall to clear out as classes switched and also to make sure no one else exited the restroom without me noticing.

When the coast was clear, I glanced both left and right, then pushed my way inside.

Sniffling behind the last of three stall doors made me stop in front of it and reach out to set my hand against the cool metal surface.

“Waverly?”I said.

There was a sharp inhale, and then an accusing, “Did you seriously follow me into the ladies’ room?”

“Yep.You forgot your book bag at the library.”

I dropped it to the floor.

After a slight pause, she muttered, “Thanks,” and the backpack was jerked abruptly under the door and into the stall with her, disappearing out of sight.

I smiled briefly before exhaling.“Think you could come out here and talk to me?”

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