Rebel Nation Read Online Free Page B

her that way he did sometimes that made her stomach knot up. She didn’t know how a look could affect her stomach, but it did. Every time. “When was the last time you weren’t able to learn something?”
    She sat on the edge of the pool but dangled her feet in the water. A criminal amount of energy was spent keeping the pool warm enough to swim in all through winter, when most of Reno lived with two hours of electricity a day and slept in front of their fireplaces if they were lucky enough to have firewood.
    â€œI don’t try to do things I know I won’t be able to do,” she said. “You don’t see me trying to fly, do you?”
    Jude floated on his back, staring up at red and yellow leaves blowing over the glass ceiling. Clover was pretty sure he was thinking what they both knew but neither had said out loud yet. Even if she managed to learn to swim, it would be a miracle if she could actually make the dive. The portal was deep enough for a submarine to travel through. Waverly had operated diving equipment, including a non-electronic air bladder, to use the portal.
    Clover’s sensory issues would make the dive impossible, even if she grew gills and webbed feet.
    Jude moved his arms and legs just slightly, so that he floated closer to her. He wore only swim trunks, so most of his body was visible, and for a moment she almost hated him for how easily the water supported him. He could make that dive today. Even the cold wouldn’t stop Jude. The stupid air bladder wouldn’t be a problem for him.
    â€œOh, my God!” He stood up, suddenly, and one of his feet must have slipped because he went backward into the water, arms flailing. Clover tried not to laugh, but the tension that had bubbled up broke and she couldn’t help it.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” she asked.
    â€œClover, what if we can ask him?”
    â€œWhat?” Except she knew. As soon as the words came out of his mouth, she knew.
    â€œWaverly was traveling right up to his death, right?”
    â€œRight.”
    â€œIf someone watches, they’ll see him.”
    Clover’s mind skittered around what Jude was saying, and what it meant. If they could ask Waverly—the Waverly from two years ago—about the book, they could tell him about his death. “Jude.”
    â€œIt might take a while, because it’s getting cold, but think about it. He couldn’t stay away. At least this way, we’ll know where his hiding place is.”
    Clover crossed her arms over her body and willed herself to relax. Jude’s idea was a good one, but the repercussions were too big for her to wrap her head around. Could they save Waverly, months after he’d died? “He’ll be coming from two years ago. If we can find his hiding place—”
    â€œYes,” Jude said, maybe reading her mind.
    â€œBut I don’t know. Jude, I don’t know if we can—”
    â€œIt’s something. It’s a start.”
    He held his arms out to her. She came down the stairs and wrapped hers around his neck, letting her legs float out from under her. He held still, and let her find a comfortable position.
    Maybe if she got used to the sensation of floating, she could actually learn to swim.
    â€”
    Bridget Kingston sat at the end of her bed Saturday morning with her knees pressed together and her hands folded in her lap. Her back was ramrod straight and she kept her eyes on Jude, avoiding Clover.
    â€œI’m not going,” she said, “I have to study.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” Clover leaned forward into Bridget’s line of sight. “You have to come.”
    â€œI have a lot of homework.”
    â€œWho cares about homework?”
    â€œI care, okay? My father is the headmaster. How is it going to look if I just stop turning in my work?”
    When they first came back to the city, it was Bridget who pushed Clover and Jude for frequent trips to