The Similars (The Similars #1)(45)

“Jane, Booker, there’s something I have to tell you.” I take in a halting breath. This is it, the moment of truth. I’m about to launch into my prepared speech when I see him in the distance, walking toward us. My heart stalls in my chest.

Levi.

I want to yell at him to go. Not yet! I want to shout. They’re not ready. I’m not ready. Levi meets my gaze, and it’s like he reads my mind. He pauses a couple of yards off, standing still as a statue.

“Emma? Are you okay?” Jane asks. She starts to turn to follow my gaze, and I lower my eyes.

“There isn’t an easy way to explain this,” I say.

Jane and Booker stare at me quizzically, not understanding what I am trying to say. How could they?

“The clones at Darkwood,” I say. “The ones who joined the junior class this year?”

“We heard,” Jane says. “Three of their names were leaked. It’s all over the feeds. They were—they are—clones of Tessa Leroy, Jake Choate, and that other girl? The Huxleys’ daughter?”

“Madison,” I supply.

Booker whistles. “Her family can’t be too happy about that. I keep telling Jane, I wouldn’t be surprised if the National Anti-Cloning Commission got involved and petitioned the school against having them here.”

Jane squeezes Booker’s hand. “Let’s not bore Emma with unsavory politics. You were saying, dear?”

My mouth gapes.

“Emmaline, honey,” Jane starts, then glances over at her husband, who nods. “What is it?”

“As you know, there are six Similars,” I blurt. “Except one of the students was cloned and his parents weren’t notified, not like the others. At least, I don’t think they were,” I add quickly. “I would like you to meet Levi. The sixth Similar. He’s your son.”





Dedication


I don’t wait to hear Jane and Booker’s reaction. I motion Levi over to us.

I don’t tell Levi I told you so, though I know in my heart of hearts I was right. Jane and Booker had no idea he existed. It couldn’t be any clearer from their faces. Oliver’s parents look lost, confused. Worse—they look torn apart.

Levi approaches, and as Jane and Booker get their first look at him, at his Oliverian face, his too-long hair, and his gray eyes, I’m plunged back into the memory of when I first laid eyes on Levi. I know how Jane feels. Seeing Levi is like seeing a mirage or a cruel optical illusion. He is so exactly like Oliver, and yet, he is not.

“I don’t know why no one told you…” I feel like I’m babbling. I don’t know what else to do.

“The school left us some messages,” Booker says, his voice hollow. “We didn’t listen to all of them…” He and Jane continue to stare at Levi. Levi holds out a hand for them to shake. When they don’t move, he retracts it and slips it into his coat pocket.

“Hey, no worries,” Levi says with a shrug. “If I were you, I probably wouldn’t want to meet me either.”

“This is Levi,” I jump in, because he deserves a proper introduction. “Levi Gravelle. He grew up…up north. He’s smart and really good at martial arts.” It’s a bit random, but we’re all just trying to make it through this moment. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know how to tell you. When I first met him, when I first saw him…” My eyes meet Levi’s in a silent apology. I’m bad at this, but I’m trying. I hope he knows that. “At least now we know. Your guardian lied to you. Jane and Booker never knew you existed.”

“Is it wrong that I hoped?” Jane asks, her voice warbled and strained. Levi and I both turn to her, surprised. “Is it wrong that I dreamed this would happen?” she says to Booker. “When I heard about the clones coming to Darkwood, there was a part of me that wanted Oliver to have one. A Similar. Because after he died…” Her words melt into sobs, and Booker embraces her. “After he died, I did too.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Levi sag. I get it now. This is his worst fear, that he’ll only be seen as a copy. A replacement for a dead boy.

Before any of us can say more, students begin convening on the grassy pavilion. It’s time for the dedication ceremony. Kids are filing in, teachers too. The hush in the air is gone, and our serene, quiet space fills up with chatter. I notice Headmaster Ransom arrive and snag Principal Fleischer for what looks like an intense discussion. I watch Madison, Tessa, Archer, and Jake filter in out of the corner of my eye. Madison looks angry about something. The others look amused.

“Will you have lunch with us, Levi? After the ceremony?” Booker asks. “Please forgive our initial shock. We would very much like to get to know you.”

Levi nods, and then Principal Fleischer interrupts, leading Jane and Booker to the podium to speak about their son.

*

In the dining hall, I park myself at a table with a plate of pasta. It sits untouched in front of me. Across the way, I watch Jane, Booker, and Levi, who are eating together. Pippa pulls up a chair next to me, and though I haven’t had a chance to tell her about the Wards’ meeting with Levi, it isn’t hard for her to figure out what happened. Anyway, Levi probably already filled her in.

“How did they take the news?” she asks, her voice solemn.