Page 1 (1/2)

Chapter One Provigal

AFTER LUNCH

"Grace! You have got to see the new guy" April bounded up to me in the junior hallway Sometimes she reminded me of the cocker spaniel I used to own--she treuy ever?" I almost dropped uy is totally nasty He got kicked out of his last two schools, and Brett Johnson says he’s on parole" April grinned "Besides, everybody knows Jude is the hottest guy ever" She jabbed me in the side

I did drop my back pack My box of pastels durumbled and squatted to pick up my shattered pastels "Jude’s my brother, remember?" April rolled her eyes "He did ask about h the chalk bits--"he said, ’How’s April?’ and I said, ’She’s fine,’ and then he gave me half of his turkey sandwich" I swear, if she had a disloyal bone in her body, I’d worry April was only irls in this school

"Hurry up," she said, glancing over her shoulder

"You could help" I waved a broken pastel at her "I just bought these on my way back from the cafe"

April crouched and picked up a blue one "What’s with these anyway? I thought you orking with charcoal"

"I can’t get it to look right" I plucked the piece of chalk fro over"

"But it’s due toht"

"I don’t think it looks that bad," April said "Besides, the new guy seerabbedtoward the art roo to hed and quickened her pace

"Here she comes," Lynn Bishop called as we rounded the corner to the art departated in front of the doorway They parted to

either side as we approached Jenny Wilson glanced atdeal?" I asked

April pointed "That is"

I stopped and stared at hiuy more than pushed the limits of Holy Trinity’s dress code in a holey Wolfsbane T-shirt and black, dingy jeans, shredded at the knees His shaggy, dyed-black hair hid his face, and he held a large sheet of paper in his pale white hands It wasin roup of bystanders and strode up to the table "Excuse me, you’re inup So about his raspy voice made my arm hairs stand on end

I stepped back "How’d you knowon the supply bucket I’d left out during lunch "Grace Divine" He snorted "Your parents must have some God complex I bet your dad is a minister"

"Pastor But that’s none of your business"