Page 16 of Step Alpha

“What’s your deal, anyway, Lincoln?” I ask to change the topic.

He follows me to my locker and waits while I spin the dial. “What do you mean?”

“Why did you come to Wolf Ridge High? Aren’t your parents rich?” Everyone here knows the twins live in the brand new, eight-million dollar home at the top of the bluff. The one that makes the locals snarl because it’s owned by a human.

“Parent. Singular.”

His words tweak my interest against my better judgment.

I look around my locker door as I shove my notebooks into my backpack. “Which parent?”

“Our dad.”

Lincoln is good-looking for a human. Dark auburn curly hair. Brown eyes. A dimple on one cheek. His twin sister is stunning, too. Their clothes are expensive but not preppy. Lincoln dresses more like a rock star. His sister Lauren has that slouchy chic thing going on.

“So, what’s the deal? Can’t he afford to send you to a private school? Or at least to Cave Hills?” I reference the snobby public school down the mountain from Wolf Ridge. Cave Hills has more wealth than Scottsdale, and its public schools reflect it. We don’t compare as far as academics go, but we love to trounce them in every sport.

“We don’t like to leave him.”

That gets my attention even more. Dammit. I don’t want to take an interest in this human. “Why not?” I shut my locker and throw my backpack over one shoulder.

Lincoln shrugs. “He’s depressed. Our mom died of cancer last year, and he’s having a hard time.”

“And he decided to movehere?” I ask incredulously. Because who in their right mind would choose Wolf Ridge as their refuge when depressed?

“He built the house for her. She loved Arizona. So…yeah.”

“Fuck. I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah, so the school we go to is the least of our concerns.”

“I get that.” I don’t mean to, but somehow, I’ve fallen into step with Lincoln as we walk out of the school.

“I have to run, or I’ll miss the bus,” I tell him. Since my mom works until six, I have to take the school bus to my old neighborhood, then a city bus up the hill, then walk a half an hour. It pretty much sucks. Especially since having pretty feet is a requirement for my college hustle.

“We can take you home,” he offers. He hasn’t even stopped at his locker to get his books or anything, he’s just been at my side since we got out of class. “I mean, if you want.”

Gah. Do I want them to? On one hand, it will completely fuck my already fucked reputation. On the other, the hour-and-a-half commute is a pain in my ass and feet.

“Um, yes. Sure. Thanks.”

He points toward the east parking lot, and we veer off in that direction, walking down the sidewalk.

Everyone’s looking.

I hear snickers and muttered comments about Rayne the Runt loving humans.

I hate everyone at this school. I really do.

I hold my head high and walk toward Lincoln’s car. As I do, my hands start sweating although I’m not sure what I’m afraid of. Leading him on? Making a new friend?

I’ve had such a pathetic social life that I don’t know how to handle the simplest of situations. But that’s not true. Making friends with Bailey was easy. I guess this is about Lincoln being a guy. Wondering if he wants to date me. What I’ll do or say if he does.

And then my already frazzled nervous system gets a jolt of electricity zapping through it when a loud, long honk to our right pulls our attention.

Oh, fuck.

What the…?

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