to be unbearably weak and slow.?
?And we spend as much time making sure no one gets hurt as we
do playing,? added Jason with a rueful smile. ?The truth is we?d
much rather be beating each other up than pretending to beat up
mortals, but that wouldn?t look normal at all.?
?Well, good luck on the whole looking-normal thing,? Helen said
briskly, stepping aside to let Jason and Hector go past her.
?I?ll find you after school,? Lucas promised her as he followed his
cousins. He glanced back and gave her a concerned look. Helen
tried to smile for him, but her expression was so phony she
wondered if Lucas could feel the lie in it.
140/395
Helen slouched into the cafeteria, hoping to duck across the
room without attracting too much attention. She saw Gretchen say
something to Amy Heart and then the whole table of cheerleaders
started laughing mockingly at Helen. It took Helen far too long to
recover, and by the time she got herself oriented, everyone in the
cafeteria was staring at her. She retreated to her usual table with
Matt and Claire, sure she could feel a cramp coming on.
?Would you please just stand up straight!? Claire barked at her.
?There?s nothing more pathetic than watching you try to dissolve
feetfirst into the frigging floor, and I swear if I catch you doing it
one more time I?m going to lose it.?
It was the last straw. Helen spun around on her heel and fled the
cafeteria. She tried to eat her lunch in the restroom, sitting on a
sink, but the venue was so unappetizing that she gave up on her
sandwich after a few bites.
She made it through her last three classes and practically ran to
the girls? locker room when the final bell rang, but Claire was
already there waiting for her.