Lucas and make an issue out of it. After the whole ?Hector tried to
drown me and ruined my phone in the process? incident, Lucas
had happily beat the stuffing out of his cousin in the newly finished
arena, and an hour later a toothless Hector had given Helen a new
276/395
phone that she was pretty sure had enough computing power to
put a satellite into orbit.
But Zach was making it impossible for Helen to protect him. The
more he kept trying to corner her, the more suspicious Lucas became,
until the inevitable happened. After school on Wednesday as
Lucas walked with Helen to track practice, he saw Zach wandering
around nearby. When Zach saw Lucas he changed direction and
went to the boys? locker room, but not before his suspicious behavior
was noticed.
?Is Zach after you?? Lucas asked with wide eyes.
?Oh, not really. He wants to talk to me about something, I think,?
Helen said as if it wasn?t important. She shut her mouth before she
could say too much.
?Yeah, I?ll bet,? Lucas said with a sneer, his blue eyes turning
nearly black as he sensed her untruth. ?Is there any reason for
Zach to think that you might be single??
?No! Wait, what?? Helen stammered, not understanding Lucas?s
anger.
?Did you tell him that you and I weren?t really a couple because I
won?t . . .? he trailed off, and ripped a hand through his hair as he
paced around in a circle. ?What are you telling people about us??
The outline of his body began to smear as he scattered the light
around him in agitation.
?I haven?t told anyone anything!? Helen said, her voice pitching
up to an unnaturally hi