Pivot Point (Pivot Point #1)(41)

The desk chair swivels as I shift my leg back and forth once. “When I read, I feel emotion all on my own. Emotion no living person is making me feel. To me, it almost seems more real, because I know that those characters can’t influence me with any power. So I like to remind myself that I can feel without anyone manipulating me.… I know, it’s lame.”

“No, it’s not lame. But you sound like a Naturalist again. You sound like you want to live in a world where people don’t have powers.”

My eyes drift to the view of the mountains out his window. “No. I want to live in a world where people aren’t using their powers against me to fulfill their own agenda.”

“You don’t trust people, do you?”

“I’ve seen a lot of alternate futures. I guess it makes me more wary than most.” I turn toward his desk. “So what are you working on?”

“Are you trying to change the subject?”

“Yes.”

He laughs. “I’m working on college stuff.”

“Oh.” The thought stops me cold. Duke is going to college next year. I’m not. “Where are you going?”

“I haven’t decided yet. I have several options, and they’ve all offered full-ride football scholarships. It’s a hard choice.”

“Yes, I’m sure it is.”

“Well, it won’t be for you. You can just do a little Search, and all will be well.” I sense a hint of bitterness and am not sure what to say. He puts a hand to the back of his neck and rubs it. “I’m sorry. I’m just tired of thinking about it.” He flops on his bed face-first. “Do it for me,” he mumbles into the mattress.

I smile. “Okay.” I pick up several pamphlets from the corner of his desk and slowly flip through them. “Here. This one looks nice. There’s a picture of a tree on the front.”

He raises his head. “Is that how I should decide? Whichever college puts out the prettiest pamphlet?”

“Totally.”

“Well, that school is in California.”

I drop it onto the desk. “Never mind. That one is off the list. Too far away. I still don’t believe you’re leaving the Compound for college.”

“I know, it’s weird to think about.”

“Do you feel like it’s going to affect your ability progression?”

“Sometimes. But I’m committed to keep it up. I’ll practice. And I’m hoping Ray comes with me, so at least we can push each other.”

“That would be good.” I turn back to the stack of pamphlets. “Okay, so no to California. See, this is easy. One down …”

“Twenty-five more to go.”

“Twenty-five? Jeez, you are someone special, aren’t you? I wish you would’ve told me.”

He shifts onto his side and props himself up on an elbow. “Come to my game this Friday.”

“What?” I say, even though I heard him perfectly.

“I have a game this Friday.”

“Home or away?”

“Here.”

“So that means you’re playing one of the other Para teams?”

“Does it matter? I’m playing.”

“Of course I’ll come to your game, if my mom lets me. I can’t promise I won’t fall asleep, but I’ll come.”

He rolls off the bed, lowers his shoulder, and barrels toward me.

“You told me to be mouthy!” I scream, and run for cover.





CHAPTER 18


NORM?vid: n. captured footage with no special effects added to enhance quality “I think guys on Lincoln High’s football team use their abilities even when they’re playing Norm schools.” I hold the phone to my ear while I use my other hand to scrub the grout on the kitchen counter with the rough side of a sponge.

Laila laughs. “You think?”

“But that’s wrong.”

“Why? Are you telling me your dad doesn’t use his abilities in his new job?”

“That’s different.”

“How? He’s using his abilities to get ahead at work. He lives in the Norm world. You don’t think his ability gives him an edge on a coworker up for the same promotion? It happens all the time. Sports are no different. Our football players want college scholarships. They’re going to use their abilities to be the best they can and edge out Norm players.”

“It just seems wrong.” I rewet my sponge and move on to a new section.

“You’ve never had a problem with it before.”

“I guess I’ve never met anyone on the wrong end of an ability.”

“Addie, are you cleaning?”

I pause in my scrubbing efforts. “Yeah, why?”

“Because you’re out of breath. Stop getting so worked up unless my bedroom is the benefactor. Speaking of, it’s a mess since you’ve been gone.”

Is that what I’m doing? Getting worked up? I do feel agitated and annoyed that someone or, more likely, several someones are abusing their abilities like this.

“Who do you think was responsible for Trevor’s injury then?” Laila asks.

I throw the sponge in the sink and walk into the living room. “I don’t know. I guess a Mass Manipulator, for one. They’re the only ones I think who could tear muscle like that.” I pause suddenly as I remember something else Trevor said.