The Similars (The Similars #1)(29)

Pippa nods.

“Let me guess. You learned how to do that as a kid?”

Pippa shrugs. “Where we grew up…”

“On the island,” I supply.

“Yes. There wasn’t a lot to do besides study. We each mastered a sport, a variety of skills in various disciplines, and languages. I speak five.”

“And you learned all that from private tutors?” I press.

“That’s right,” she replies.

“Levi told me it was like those seasteads I’ve read about, a floating city out in open water?”

“Essentially,” Pippa says. “It is its own micronation, governed by its own laws. It’s four square miles and had everything we needed—food, shelter, caregivers. All the basics,” she adds wryly.

“Why do you all have British accents?” I blurt. “Was the island near England?”

“We had British nannies,” Pippa explains. “They took care of us, made sure we were adequately nurtured: read to us, hugged us, that sort of thing.”

Now I’m even more fascinated about the Similars’ lives before Darkwood. Still, I’m wary of bombarding Pippa with too many questions about her home, so I turn my attention, instead, to her friends. “Well,” I prod. “Did you see what Theodora said? Did Henry seal the deal? He looks pretty happy.”

Pippa neatly folds her napkin in her lap. “She said she’d think about it.”

*

The next afternoon, I receive a buzz saying that duty has been relocated to the library. Not surprising, given that the police are still using their laser technologies to scour the boathouse for clues about what happened to Pru.

I’m sick with worry over her. Every time I close my eyes, I see her lying there in that canoe. But I still have to show up for detention, so I wrench open one of the doors of the library and scan the browsing room, searching for some instruction. I have no idea what I’m supposed to do, and I don’t see Levi, so I wander. First, through the tables in the center of the main room, where the windowed dome in the ceiling lets in wedges of afternoon light. I circle back through some of the stacks. The beautiful spines of the old books offer so much promise. I pull a book at random. War and Peace. It’s heavy. Digital books have no weight, no heft. This is part of why I love physical books.

I slide War and Peace back into its spot and round the corner, then stop short. Three students are huddled over a table in the far corner, oblivious to my presence, and to everything besides whatever it is they’re concentrating on.

Jake, Tessa, and Madison. I’m sure it’s them, and not their Similars, from their outfits and the way Jake tilts his head back as he laughs, his leather satchel slung carelessly on the back of his chair, grazing the shiny wood floor. He’s leisurely, like someone who’s never had a care in the world, which definitely doesn’t fit Jago’s demeanor. I shift my position, but I still can’t tell what it is they’re looking at.

“It isn’t funny, Jake,” I overhear Tessa saying. “Madison didn’t show up for her blood work yesterday. Principal Fleischer said she won’t be able to participate if she doesn’t keep her appointments.”

“Please,” Madison says, waving off Tessa. “My mother would never let her disqualify me.”

“Madison skipped because she can’t stand the sight of blood.” Jake chuckles. “You should have told me, baby. Next time I’ll come with you. Hold your hand.”

“Never happening,” Madison retorts. “And I’m not afraid of blood. I had something more important to take care of yesterday afternoon.”

Tessa looks annoyed. “I don’t care what you were doing. I showed up for my appointment yesterday morning. I never would have dreamed of missing it. This affects all of us, you know. It’s not a game!”

I’ve never seen Tessa so impassioned about anything before. From the looks on Madison and Jake’s faces, they haven’t either.

“Jeez, Tessa,” Jake says. “I’m sure Madison can reschedule. Right, babe?” He throws an arm around the back of Madison’s chair.

Madison glares at him. “Call me babe again, and your arm will be permanently dislocated from your shoulder.”

“I’d like to see that,” Jake responds, laughing. As he leans back into his chair, I catch sight of some papers on the table. It looks like a printout.

“She isn’t interested,” Tessa says. “Maybe you’d have better luck with her Similar.”

Jake scowls. “Like Henry Blackstone? What a loser. I wonder if Theodora’s desperate enough to go out with him.”

Madison scrolls through her plum. “She’s probably never gone on a date before. I suppose Henry’s better than no one.”

“Do you think any of them have ever…you know…?” Tessa shrugs.

“Please stop,” Madison says, finally looking up from her plum. “I don’t want the image of that stuck in my head all afternoon.” She looks pointedly at Jake. “It’s bad enough my Similar is dating yours.”

“Did your parents adore him?” Tessa cuts in, changing the topic.

“Who?” asks Jake. He snaps a rubber band between his fingers.

“Jago, obviously.”

“What do you think?” asks Jake. “Jago’s the son they always wished they’d had, except he’s dull as a freaking subterranean rock. You couldn’t pay me to switch places with that kid.”