Flight of Life (Essence Series #1) by E. L. Todd

Library was
convenient because it was deserted, and it was also the place the
book was hidden, so Calloway agreed with Easton—it was the best
location. Plus, they could practice their attacks on a wandering
Hara-Kir. “I think it’s a good idea.”
    “ What do you think?” she
asked Breccan.
    Breccan was still chewing his sandwich.
Even though Calloway was slightly larger than his cousin he didn’t
eat nearly as much. Breccan always seemed to have an appetite even
if he already ate. “I get a vote?” he asked with a mouth full of
food.
    She made a disgusted face. “Of course,”
she said. “What do you think?”
    He swallowed his food and shrugged. “I
guess it’s as good as any other place.”
    “ No,” Calloway said. “It’s
better.”
    “ So that will be our
headquarters?” she asked.
    “ I guess,” Calloway
said.
    “ Let’s refer to the
Grandiose Historian Library as the Headquarters, just in case
someone is eaves dropping on us.”
    Breccan laughed. “No one cares about
the activities of a bunch of high school kids.”
    “ Well, we aren’t going to
be in high school forever,” she said. “We’re graduating
soon.”
    “ And that day can’t come
soon enough.” Calloway sighed.
    Easton smiled at him. “It’ll be over
soon,” she said. “Just hang in there. I know exactly how you
feel.”
    “ I do, too,” Breccan
said.
    Calloway smiled at his two friends.
“Thanks.”
    The lunch bell rang and they rose from
their seats. Breccan shoved the rest of his chips into his mouth
and dropped crumbs across the table and floor when he couldn’t fit
them all inside.
    Easton glared at him. “Now you have to
pick those up!”
    Breccan shook his head. “That isn’t my
problem.”
    “ The librarian isn’t going
to let us come in here anymore,” she hissed. She bent down and
started picking up the pieces and Calloway helped her. Breccan
sighed then scraped the broken chips off the table. They threw the
contents into the garbage then walked to class. Calloway went to
his history class and didn’t pay attention to anything during the
lesson. The teacher collected the homework that was due but he had
nothing to turn in. He forgot about the assignment.
    When Calloway walked to his photography
class he felt his heart squeeze in dread. This was his least
favorite class even though it was the last period of the day. When
he walked inside he sat next to Breccan but didn’t say anything. He
felt a tap on his shoulder but he didn’t turn around, knowing who
the culprit was. He tried to ignore the excessive poking until it
turned into a forceful punch. Calloway finally turned around and
glared at Hawk, who was smiling at him with a mouth full of teeth.
He had a McDonald’s gift card in his hand.
    “ I just want to make sure
your family has dinner tonight,” Hawk said as he handed him the
card.
    Calloway turned away but
Hawk grabbed him by the shoulder. “Why are you being so
ungrateful— take it .” Calloway yanked his shoulder away from his grasp but Hawk
grabbed him again. “I don’t want you to starve.” The students in
the class laughed at Hawk’s comment and the sound echoed around the
classroom. The teacher heard everything—it was impossible for her
not to—but she did nothing to intervene. Hawk shoved the gift card
into his face then started laughing. His gang of friends howled
with laughter as they watched Calloway throw the card in the
garbage can in the front of the class.
    Now that the confrontation was over,
Mrs. Ezquibel rose from her seat and addressed the students. “We
will continue with the same project,” she said as she unlocked the
drawers. “Grab your cameras and check them out.” She returned to
her seat while the students moved to the front of the classroom.
Calloway and Breccan both stayed in their seats, unsure what to do.
Most of the students left the room with their cameras and started
taking pictures outside.
    Mrs. Ezquibel looked at Calloway.
“Since your