LIFE AND DEATH (edythe's pov)

Chapter 6 blood typing

I followed him all day through other people's eyes, barely aware of my own surroundings.

Not McKayla Newton's eyes, because I couldn't stand any more of her offensive fantasies, and not Jeremy Stanley's, because his resentment toward Beau was irritating. Allen Weber was a good choice when his eyes were available. He was kind—his head was an easy place to be. And then sometimes it was the teachers who provided the best view.

I was surprised, watching Beau stumble through the day—tripping over cracks in the sidewalk, stray books, and, most often, his own feet—that the people I eavesdropped on thought of him as clumsy.

I considered that. It was true that he often had trouble staying upright. I remembered his stumbling into the desk that first day, sliding around on the ice before the accident, staggering against the low lip of the doorframe yesterday. How odd—they were right. He was clumsy.

I didn't know why this was so funny to me, but I laughed out loud as I walked from American History to English and several people shot me wary glances, then looked away quickly from my exposed teeth. How had I never noticed this before? Perhaps because there was something very graceful about him in stillness, the way he held his head, the arch of his neck...

There was nothing graceful about him now. Mrs. Varner watched as he caught the toe of his boot on the carpet and literally fell into his chair.

I laughed again.

The time moved with incredible sluggishness while I waited for my chance to see him with my own eyes. Finally, the bell rang. I strode quickly to the cafeteria to secure my spot. I was one of the first in the room. I chose a table that was usually empty, and was sure to remain that way with me seated here.

When my family entered and saw me sitting alone in a new place, they were not surprised. Archie must have warned them.

Royal stalked past me without a glance.

Idiot.

Royal and I had never had an easy relationship—I'd offended him the very first time he'd heard me speak, and it was downhill from that point on—but it seemed as though he was even more ill-tempered than usual the last few days. I sighed. Royal made everything about himself.

Jessamine gave me half a smile as she walked by.

Good luck, she thought doubtfully.

Eleanor rolled her eyes and shook her head.

Lost her mind, poor girl.

Archie was beaming, his teeth shining too brightly.

Can I talk to Beau now?

"Keep out of it," I said under my breath.

His face fell, and then brightened again.

Fine. Be stubborn. It's only a matter of time.

I sighed again.

Don't forget about today's Biology lab, he reminded me.

I nodded. It irked me that Mrs. Banner had made these plans. I'd wasted so many hours in Biology, sitting next to him while pretending to ignore him; it was painfully ironic to me that I would miss that hour with him today.

While I waited for Beau to arrive, I followed him in the eyes of the freshman who was walking behind Jeremy on her way to the cafeteria. Jeremy was babbling about the upcoming dance, but Beau said nothing in response. Not that Jeremy gave him much of a chance.

The moment Beau walked through the door, his eyes flashed to the table where my siblings sat. He stared for a moment, and then his forehead crumpled and his eyes dropped to the floor. He hadn't noticed me here.