scholarship would be great but that would mean competing with
Claire for grades, and that was out of the question.
?Hey, Giggles,? Helen said, easily catching up. Claire was panting
and sweating away already.
?What happened? God, it?s so hot!? she exclaimed, her breath
strained.
?I think the entire faculty is trying to see if they can climb up
onto my back at the same time.?
?Welcome to my life,? Claire wheezed. ?Japanese kids grow
up . . . with at least two . . . people up there. . . . You get used to it.?
After a few more labored moments of trying to keep up with Helen,
Claire added, ?Can we . . . slow down? Not all of us are from . . .
planet Krypton.?
Helen adjusted her pace, knowing that she could pull ahead in
the last half mile. She rarely exerted herself in practice but she
knew that even without trying hard she could easily finish first.
That fact scared her, so she did what she usually did when the subject
of her freaky speed came up in her head. She ignored it and
chatted with Claire.
As the two girls ran down Surfside and out across the moors to
Miacomet Pond, Claire couldn?t stop talking about the Delos boys.
She told Helen at least three times that Lucas had held the door for
her at the end of class. That act proved he was not only a gentleman,
but already in love with her as well. Jason, Claire decided,
was either gay or a snob because he had only glanced at her once
before quickly looking away. She also took offense at how nice a
dresser he was, like he was European or something.
31/395
?He?s been living in Spain for, like, three years, Gig. He kinda is
European. Can we please stop talking about them? It?s giving me a