Page 41 of Jinxed

I frown. ‘Huh?’

‘I didn’t pick you. Gemma did. We think something was switched in the announcements. I mean... she made a good choice. Your stats were off the charts – your grades from your old school were top notch – you clearly know your way around a lab, your connection with your baku is super strong. Like,reallystrong. But my father had made it clear to me that having Carter on my team was the only option. Kai also thought it was a done deal – he thought we’d be guaranteed winners because we’dhave another high level baku on the team. That’s why he was a bit... hard on you in the beginning.’

‘A bit?’

Tobias barks a laugh. ‘Well, okay, a lot. And, with your grades and your stats, you’re a bit intimidating, you know?’

‘Me?’ Emotions swirl in my stomach. Just like my Profectus acceptance, getting on to Tobias’s team is just another thing that was sort of... a fluke.

>>Who cares if it was a fluke, as long as it happened?

Not helpful.I frown at Jinx.

‘Hey, I’m glad you’re on my team now.’ His hand brushes the bare skin on my arm, where I’ve rolled my shirt sleeves up. Once again I feel the electricity of being with him, near him, but I’m sure he doesn’t feel the same way about me.

We inhabit totally different worlds. He’s seen the basement where I do my work – it’snothing compared to the opulence he’s used to.

‘So, what’syourdeal with Carter?’ he asks.

I shrug. ‘We’ve been academic rivals since sixth grade. I beat him in a couple of regional science competitions...’

‘Not a surprise.’

‘And then I got a higher mark than him in some exams. He didn’t like it. But I thought it was a bit of healthy competition... until the Profectus thing.’

Now it’sTobias’s turn to look sceptical. ‘Feels like a bit more than academic competition to me.’

‘Well, my dad might have something to do with it too.’

‘Huh? What do you mean?’

I can’t look at him any longer, so I turn my attention to Jinx, who is crawling out of the basket and leaning his paws against the door frame, so he can stare out of the window. ‘My dad was one of Monica’s original companioneers.’

‘Wait – your dad was Albert Chu?’

I nod. ‘Yeah.’

Tobias’s jaw drops. ‘Damn. I didn’t know.’

‘No one does. Heck, I barely knew.’

‘But what...’

‘What happened to him? I have no clue. My mom says he had a nervous breakdown and left us when I was five. It’s something I try not to think about.’ The car comes to a halt, and I breathe a sigh of relief that we’ve arrived and I won’t have to talkabout Dad any more. The door opens automatically. Jinx darts out while I’m still fumbling with my seatbelt. ‘Wait – hey! Jinx!’

Jinx, what are you doing?I shout in my head.

‘Lacey? What’s going on?’ I hear Tobias say, but my vision is tunnelled towards following where Jinx is going.

‘I’ll catch you up inside – just gotta do one thing!’ I call out behind me, running off after Jinx.

I cursethe stupid baku all the way down the street – convinced that he’s even faster now that he has that collar on. I don’t know this part of the city so well – but as I catch sight of his tail darting down an alleyway between two high rise buildings, my heart drops. I know that there are parts of the city where you’re not supposed to wander around alone.

‘Jinx, where are you going?’ I shout out.

He doesn’t answer. Instead, he shoots away, disappearing even further down the alley.

‘What the hell!’ I run after him, my feet slipping inside my shoes. I take the corner too sharply, my shoulder bashing up against the brick wall. The alleyway is stuffed with garbage bags, the walls covered in graffiti, but I just about catch sight of Jinx’s metal tail disappearing around yet another corner.

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