Phantom Universe (26 page)

She thinks about what he said for a second and then a grin sneaks up her face and she nods.
He’s so kind . . . protective . . . compassionate
, she realizes.
Why did I ever fear him? Not trust him?
This truly baffles her as Gage leans over one more time and places another gentle kiss on her lips.

“
You should go now,” he whispers against her mouth, “before I change my mind and keep you here.” He steps back.

She takes in his appearance: the uniform, the messed up blonde hair, the eyes.
Oh, the eyes
. She sighs dreamily, and those eyes smile at her. And the imperfect bump on his nose . . . She can’t help but stand on tiptoe and, finally, press her lips against that imperfect bump. It’s what she’s wanted to do since the beginning. When she backs away, he has the goofiest grin plastered on his face that’s so endearing she wants to do it all over again to see if it’ll become bigger, brighter, and possibly goofier.

“
Get outta here, Flower. I’m already changin’ my mind,” he says playfully.

She gives him one last smile before she takes off between the buildings. Gage steps out from behind the building and watches her, the goofy grin still plastered across his face as he rubs at his neck distractedly. Her blonde hair trails behind her in an undulating wave, the black clothing making her look even thinner. At the other end of the building, she runs into her friends. Landon wraps an arm around her shoulders and Gage watches them walk away, jealousy nipping, biting, and tugging at his smile until it’s gone.

CHAPTER
27: OUTCASTS

16 years old

Landon escorts Summer through the maze of people with Jaden being a solid wall next to her. The other three don’t say anything to her, only stay far away. Many people stare at them, and she wishes the future held the technology of invisibility.

“
So are ye going to tell me about this Leaguer who obviously is in love with ye?” teases Landon, smiling widely regardless of the scowls that follow them. “The girls here all swoon for him,” he adds with a chuckle. “I’m afraid ye are going to have a lot of enemies.”

Summer frowns at this news, wishing she could just not be on
anyone’s
radar. Her frown doesn’t last for long, though. She can still taste Gage on her lips, and Landon, her best friend who she thought might be dead, is right here with her. If there is one thing in this world that could make this day better, it would be to fly away from here with everyone she cares about and live peacefully on some remote island.

They line up outside the square building she saw earlier. There’s a table with plates and cups for them to use at the end of the line. They each grab the necessary utensils with their plate and cup. The girl next to Jaden has curly brown hair, light green eyes, and only an inch taller than Summer. There’s a smattering of freckles across her cheeks just like she has.

“
Summer, this is Lucy,” Jaden introduces and Lucy smiles warmly at her.

“
Hi Summer. Jaden and Landon have told me so much about you. I know you don’t speak, but that shouldn’t be a problem for us. My sister Kylie was deaf so we learned to communicate without talking.” Lucy hands her plate, cup, and utensils to Jaden and begins to move her hands around in quick, concise movements. Almost theatrically.

Jaden and the two boys Summer doesn’t know begin to laugh at Summer’s eccentric expression while she watches Lucy. Lucy’s hands continue to flail around dramatically. Summer actually backs away, beginning to panic when Lucy becomes more animated and forceful with her insane hand gestures. Landon wraps an arm around Summer’s shoulders again, letting her know he’s here for her. She really missed his comforting side-hugs.

“
What, is that, like, some gang sign?” a girl asks with a laugh as she flips her dark blonde hair behind her. “Freaks.” The group of people around her burst into laughter as if she just said the funniest thing on the planet. They walk away, several of them glancing over their shoulders with malicious smirks in place.

Once they pass, Landon begins to chuckle. “Summer can’t read sign language, Lucy. Plus, she can hear just fine.”

Lucy’s hands drop to her sides. “Oh.” She bites her lip, accepts her stuff back from Jaden, and turns away, embarrassed. She tucks her hair behind her ear, and Summer notices a tiny mark behind her right ear—like a strawberry.

“
And these two fools,” says Landon with a wave of his hand in the direction of the two boys, “are Avery and Robert, Rob for short.”

They both mumble a hello and neither of them offer a hand to her. Avery has wine-red hair with dark green eyes, though his most distinguishing features are his large ears that poke out from his hair. Rob, on the other hand, has longer, golden brown hair and light green eyes. He’s tall and thin with model-like looks, and, Summer notices, Jaden’s eyes continuously find their way back to him no matter where he stands.

They move forward in the line, and as the minutes pass, the group around her begins to open up after having the awkward sixth wheel added to their group.

“
I swear if they’re serving those bloody baked beans again I’m going to go on strike,” grumbles Rob in a British accent. “You’d think they would add some bacon fat or something for flavor.”

“
They do add something,” chimes in Avery, “it’s called dirt. Lots of fiber.” They chuckle and Lucy joins in.

“
Three meals a day—I’m not complaining,” adds Landon, eyeing Summer knowingly. On the Cosmos, it wasn’t abnormal for them to only receive one meal a day, usually dinner since they cooked it, but sometimes not even that.

“
I forget these things,” says Rob in apology. “So what’s your story?” he asks Summer, then turns to Landon for the answer.

“
Same as mine, except for longer and more intense,” Landon explains, obviously trying to change the subject. His voice lowers. “She doesn’t talk for a reason—beaten into silence.” An uncomfortable silence follows his words, and Summer’s really beginning to hate being this strange person that everyone gawks at. “Anyway,” Landon finally says, “why don’t ye all tell her about yourselves, all right?”

“
Sure,” says Lucy, quickly rising to the challenge. “I’m Lucy Wofe—but you knew that. Um, my sister Kylie and I ride horses and compete in dressage and show jumping.” The line moves forward some more. “And I have this unstoppable laughing issue when someone trips and falls. I just can’t help it.”

Jaden bursts into laughter. “That poor girl broke her ankle, and you couldn’t stop giggling, Lucy. It was awful! She probably thinks you need Prozac, or you’re a schizoid. Hell, I think you need a heavy dose of Valium.”

“
It was bad,” adds Rob with a chuckle. “Especially when you started snorting like a constipated pig.” In his accent it’s even funnier. Everyone starts to laugh, and Summer smiles at their banter.

“
Fine,” Lucy huffs, though a grin twitches at the edges of her mouth. “If you think you’re so fantastic, Robert, you tell her about yourself.”

“
Parkins is my last name, and singing is my game.” Rob bangs his plate and cup together loudly and Summer backs away reflexively. “Sorry,” he blurts. “I’m just so pissy with this whole bloody situation. I was just here on an exchange program I was told would do
wonders
for my resume.” He makes a grand gesture with his plate and cup by swirling them around in the air. “
But no
—I get cheated on by my girlfriend and sent two hundred years in the future to be shoved into a camp full of Yanks.” He rolls his eyes for emphasis.

“
We’re so tired of your sad love story, puppy boy.” Avery slaps Rob on the back, and this also makes Summer recoil. “Sorry,” he says quickly. “Forget this lot. I’m the coolest dude here. I’m a swimmer and won my school’s regional competition.” Avery pulls a medal from under his shirt and wiggles it so the sun reflects off it. It reads “1
^st
Place” and under that it has his name “Avery Delta.” He rubs the medal like it’s a furry pet. “I mean—look at that beauty.”

Summer’s impressed and actually takes a step forward.

“
Dork,” quips Jaden.

“
Cobblers!” Rob laughs and flicks the medal. “This git has lit’rally been showing that thing off since he got here.”

“
Don’t start using your bloody British speak with me,” jokes Avery.

“
Basically, we’re all a bunch of prats if you ask me,” says Rob with another chuckle, throwing his arm around Jaden.

“
Speak for yourself,” Lucy says and sticks her tongue out at Rob.

“
And if you ask
me
,” a girl chirps behind them, “you all look like yeasty, cross-dressing perverts to me!” A bunch of people around them start to guffaw.

They all turn around to stare at the girl who spoke. Avery seems to be the most offended of all. The girl is only slightly taller than Summer with blonde hair and creepy, ice-blue eyes. She has a tattoo of a violet butterfly on her left cheekbone, right next to her eye, and a wicked grin is spread across her face. She’s quite chubby compared to the others, and it’s obvious money has influenced those around her.

“
Shut it, muffin top,” says Rob with a grin.

The girl gasps as her friends start to giggle at her.

“
Violet—you were had!” one of them says with a laugh.

“
Oh, by the way,” Landon says, turning Summer around and moving forward in the line, “we’re the outcasts in this place. But we’ve got Rob on our side—he’s like an insult dictionary.”

“
And don’t forget it, numpty!”

And the playful insults continue between them as the line moves forward, though the girl behind them remains quiet. Summer feels as though she’s been thrown on a crazy roller coaster.

CHAPTER
28: CHOCOLATE

16 years old

The food isn’t that much different than what Summer had been eating while in the hospital. They choose to eat outside, much to her delight. Ever since Doctor Rose turned the window in her room into a wall (she’s still confused how that works), she hasn’t been outside at all. At the picnic table, Summer sits between Jaden and Landon, with Lucy, Rob, and Avery across from them. Jaden takes a bite of a green apple while staring at Rob intensely as he explains the difference in guitars, strings, and picks.

“
You know what I miss?” Lucy interrupts.

“
Riding?” everyone says at once.

“
We know,” says Avery with a sigh.

“
No!” Lucy rolls her eyes. “I was going to say I miss pizza. Oh! And chocolate!”

Everyone groans at the sound of something as sweet as chocolate. From what Summer was told, the food has become more and more tasteless, and the portions have been shrinking. There have even been fights breaking out in the camps from people stealing food from others. Especially the once wealthy and rich who can’t just go buy whatever they want anymore.

“
Speaking of chocolate,” says Landon with a grin spreading across his face. “Happy birthday, Summer!” He pulls something from his pocket and places it on the table in front of her. When he removes his hand she can see the distinct brown wrapper of a candy bar. Her eyes go wide at the sight.

“
It’s your birthday?” Lucy asks with a squeal edging her voice.

“
Almost three weeks ago now,” says Landon.

“
Party in our room tonight!” Lucy squeals, claps her hands together, and bounces in her seat.

Summer picks up the chocolate candy bar like it’s precious and examines the worn exterior. Flipping it over and over in her hands, she can’t believe that he managed to hold onto this for so long and just for her.