"James McCann - Kith 1" - читать интересную книгу автора (McCann James)

тАЬYou can do it Trent,тАЭ Jen called to him.
тАЬGreat,тАЭ he whispered, тАЬsheтАЩs drawing attention to me.тАЭ
Coach Randolf threw in eight volleyballs, and immediately they began flying about
the gym like a pinball machine gone mad. Trent imagined he was Rafgard. The first of
many balls hurtled toward him, and diving to the floor Trent dodged it. He actually
dodged it!
Trent jumped to his feet, spun, and avoided yet another attack. The boy behind him
was not so lucky. It was now nine-eleven, and Trent was not the first out! Each time a
boy was struck his bravado increased, but when he found himself alone on his side, with
two boys on the other, one of which was Billy, his fear returned.
Trent considered giving up. He thought about letting either Billy or the other guy,
Bob, tag him. But when he heard Jen call him instinct took over. He turned to see the ball
she had thrown to him, and catching it he hurtled it toward Bob, just like Rafgard would
have done! No one was more surprised than Trent when Bob shouted, тАЬTag!тАЭ
So it was now Billy versus Trent; Rafgard versus the dragon.
Again he heard Jen shout as she threw him his sword..., er, a ball, and catching it he
hurtled it toward Billy. Trent was the only one surprised when Billy nimbly caught the
ball and threw it back. Smashing Trent in the nose. Sending him flat on his ass.
The gym echoed with laughter as Trent shook his aching head in a vain attempt to
regain his senses. Licking his lips he tasted blood, and pinching his nostrils he stopped
his nosebleed. Not quite the success in which Rafgard would have rejoiced, but still less
embarrassing than being first out.
тАЬYou okay?тАЭ Jen asked. She knelt beside him and rubbed his chin, her smile chasing
away the embarrassment.
тАЬYeah, IтАЩm okay.тАЭ
тАЬDonтАЩt look like it to me!тАЭ coach Randolf barked, throwing him an ice pack and
towel. тАЬGet off the floor and clean yourself up. You bleed like a girl.тАЭ Then to Jen: тАЬNo
offence.тАЭ
тАЬNone taken.тАЭ She gave him a mock-smile and helped Trent off the floor. As they
walked to the bleachers the coach set things up for a co-ed volleyball game. Jen held the
ice-pack to TrentтАЩs nose and, strangely, he didnтАЩt mind the pain.
тАЬThanks,тАЭ Trent said, sitting.
тАЬIтАЩm no Florence Nightingale, but youтАЩre welcome.тАЭ
 Kith тАУ 12 тАУ
тАЬNot for the ice-pack.тАЭ
тАЬThen what for?тАЭ
тАЬFor believing in me. IтАЩve never lasted that long.тАЭ
She smiled again and their eyes met. Trent felt oddly drawn toward her, but caught
himself before doing anything crazy. Yet for the first time he was speechless with her.

Billy watched from where he and his crew set up a volleyball net.
тАЬI canтАЩt believe that nerd nailed me,тАЭ Bob said, having noticed his leaderтАЩs attention
on them.
тАЬI canтАЩt believe that babe is with him,тАЭ Billy said from atop a chair where he secured
one side of the net.
тАЬJen?тАЭ Sandra asked, throwing a ball at BillyтАЩs head and narrowly missing.
тАЬYouтАЩd be wasting your time with her,тАЭ Karen Berard added.
Billy jumped from the chair and walked to her. No one but him noticed her tremble
when he brushed back her long, scarlet hair.
тАЬIf I can get you, I can get her.тАЭ