Chapter 9

Part 2

The smell of the pizza drew Baqer out of his lab like a mouse to cheese.

“Pepperoni?” he asked, poking his head into Jaden’s room.

Jaden shrugged. “Help yourself.”

Baqer opened the pizza box. “How cute,” he said sarcastically.

Jaden looked at the pizza. All the pepperonis were arranged in the shape of a heart. He sighed. “It’s from Ally.”

“A thank-you gift for last night?” Baqer asked, taking a slice of pizza from the right lobe of the heart.

“We didn’t, I mean, I didn’t—oh, man . . . ” Jaden didn’t even know where to begin.

“Easy, my friend. Have a slice.”

The thought of consuming a piece of pizza representing Ally’s heart made Jaden want to retch. He shook his head.

“She’s an addict and wants to stay that way. I didn’t get a chance to try to help her with our equipment, and I won’t. I’m done with her.” He took the duffle bag out from underneath his bed and slid it toward Baqer.

“Bummer,” Baqer said, his mouth filled with gooey pizza. “Guess you won’t be wanting this, then—”

“Take it,” Jaden said grimly.