Page 34 of The Executioners Three
This was not what Freddie had been expecting. “Were you eavesdropping just now?”
“Oh, absolutely.”
“Ugh.” Freddie shook her head, genuine annoyance unfurling in her chest. “That’s one more thing that makes you a Very Bad Human Indeed. And in case you can’t tell, I am saying that phrase as a proper noun. So you know it’s serious.”
Theo’s eyes crinkled, and this time the smile was real. So real that Freddie felt her own lips lifting in return.
But she instantly fought off the reaction. Theo Porter wasnotworthy of her smiles; Fortin Prep students were all terrible Montagues—enemy, enemy,enemy.
Then again, Theo was also not worthy of hertime,yet here she was filling it for him. She supposed she might as well exact a teensy bit of revenge.
“So tell me, Mr. Porter.” Freddie stretched one leg over her bike. “What does the song ‘I Want It That Way’ actually mean?”
Red fanned up his neck and face. “I was, uh… wondering if you would mention that.”
“How could I not? Your performance was…” She squinted into the distance. “Inspired.”
“Huh.” Now he was really fidgeting. Hands in the pockets. Hands out. Fingers through his hair. Thumb tapping at his thigh.
“You were almost as good as the NSYNC concert I attended last June.”
He scoffed, and somehow the color on his cheeks flared brighter. “Justin Timberlake,” he said, “hasnothingon Nick Carter.”
“Well, my favorite is Lance anyway.”
“Not an improvement.”
“Wrong. Plus, at least all of NSYNC’s lyrics make sense.”
“No way.” Theo’s eyes narrowed. “I mean, explain to me what ‘Tearin’ Up My Heart’ is actually about. He’s upset when he’s with herandwhen they’re apart?”
Freddie didn’t know whether to be impressed that Theo knew the lyrics or horrified that he could misunderstand them so badly. “He’s so in love with her that it rips him apart when he’s with herandwhen they’re apart—how is that hard to comprehend?”
“Because it’s illogical.”
“Or you have a heart made of iron.”
There it was again—the surprised laugh—and for several heartbeats, Freddie found herself grinning full wattage right back.
Maybe Theo Porter isn’t so bad,she thought. Then half a heartbeat later,NO, WAIT. HE IS THE ENEMY. HE KILLED TYBALT. RED ALERT. RED ALERT. STOP SMILING.
Fortunately, Freddie was saved from having to get her face under control by a blue Explorer. Mr. Bowman was home. Freddie waved to him. “It would seem you don’t require my presence any longer, Mr. Porter.”
“Thanks for helping out.” Theo ran his tongue over his teeth. “Although, itisthe least you could do after getting me arrested.”
She rolled her eyes. Mr. Bowman was pulling into the driveway now. It really was time to move, yet for some reason, instead of pedaling away, she found herself pinning Theo with her haughtiest stare and saying, “I’m going to get that prank book back, Mr. Porter. Just you wait—you and the rest of your filthy Montague clan won’t even know what hit you.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Theo said. “But if you actually manage to get it back, Gellar, then I will be very impressed.”
“Oh, come on now.” Freddie pushed into a slow ascent. “You’re already impressed by me. You said as much earlier. But don’t you worry!”
She pedaled past Mr. Bowman, who waved from the driver’s seat. Then once at the road, she released the handlebars and shouted back, “It’s only natural to think I’m amazing!I have that effect on everyone!”
8
Freddie stayed up too late watchingI Love LucyandThe Munsterswith Mom and Steve. She feltsoguilty about stealing from the archives that she was too ashamed to skulk off to her room early. Which meant Freddie didn’t get to exploreThe Curse of Allard Fortinuntil well after midnight.
But by then, she was so tired all she managed to do was open the book to chapter one and read the title (“My Family’s History as the Allard Fortin Blacksmith”). After that, her eyes simply would not stay open any longer.
