ARC: Cracked (32 page)

I’ve been living with the guilt so long that it seems impossible. But I will try.

Eventually Luke has to leave, but we make plans to meet again.

After he goes, I continue walking. He didn’t get someone to guard me when he left – on accident or on purpose, I don’t know, but I take advantage of my freedom. I walk the perimeter of the camp and think about my mom. About Luke. About miscommunications and sacrifice. About mistakes. About good and evil.

I’m deep in thought and don’t notice the arguing couple until I am almost on them. Which is appalling, because Jo is, as always,
loud
. I try to retreat, but I’m so close I really don’t want to get caught – or interrupt.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jo says stiffly, backing away. He grabs her by the arms, completely undaunted. I told you he’s brave.

“You do. You love me, Jo.”

“I don’t.” She won’t look at him.

“Liar,” he says softly.

She finally breaks down. Her collapsing face falls into her hands. She cries. “It won’t work, Chi. I’ll be stuck at the school–”

“Then call me Professor Dupaynes.”

Ack, the horror
.

“Be serious!” she says and he wraps his arms around her.

“I don’t care, Jo. We might actually make it to a ripe old age that way.” She cries harder. “But I don’t think it will come to that. Your brains and my legs? We’re a match for any pair out there.”

“Chi, I’ll get you killed!”

“It’s because of
you
that Meda didn’t kill us.” Chi kicks up his mouth in a half-smile and murmurs into her ear, “How many times do you have to save my life before I’m allowed to like you?”

“I–” she starts to say before he tilts her chin up.

“Personally, I think three times is enough.”

Four times. But maybe keeping some secrets between friends is a good idea.

And then he finally takes my advice and kisses her.

I’m not going anywhere for a while, so I take a seat while the soap opera that is the relationship between my two best friends unfolds in front of me. In memory of Uri, I pop some imaginary corn for the show and munch. I just hope they keep it PG.

And suddenly Uri’s beside me. Silver and smiling, he sits on the bench next to me and takes a handful. He’s carrying the military supply pack, and pops some corn in his mouth and some in his bag.

A good memory to save for later.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A huge thank you to my parents, Bob and Mary, for all their love and support; to Wes and Matt for being the best and worst brothers ever; and to Diane for always being on the same page no matter how odd the book might be at times. 

I’d like to thank all my critique partners, but especially Megan, Marlene, Reg and Ann for their early and constant support; the bearded ladies, Mónica, Stacey, Evelyn and Holly, for their tough critiques and persistent friendship; and Shiv for making my dream come true.

I would also like to thank my agent, Victoria Marini, and my editors, Ameya Nagarajan and Amanda Rutter, for loving my messed-up characters as much as I do; and the rest of the Penguin India and Strange Chemistry teams for their hard work in making
Cracked
ready for the world. 

And lastly, I’d like to thank Raffi, Baird and ‘the girls’, whose companionship exercises my imagination every day, and Adam, for being the kind of man to which imaginary menageries make perfect sense.