Bounders (35 page)

I bet she's blackmailing Sheek into featuring her on his show. She'll stay quiet about the battle in exchange for a guest spot. If there's one person from the EarthBound Academy who I won't miss, it's Florine Statton.

“If you can make your way to the passenger craft,” she says, “your belongings have been loaded, and we are ready to depart.”

Now those are the words we've been waiting to hear. I take the handles of Marco's wheelchair and race up the aisle. We're outta here!

As soon as the captain disengages FTL on our flight home to Earth, the plebes come through the aisles, collecting our gloves.

“Can't say I'm sad to see these go for a while,” Marco says. He sits beside us in the aisle, his foot elevated on his wheelchair.

“I am,” Cole says. “I would have liked a chance to practice before our next tour.”

“You're fine,” I say. “You bounded, remember? That's more than most of these clowns can say.” I look at Regis. He's on the other side of the craft, entertaining his groupies with some riveting tale. Probably a lie. “Just enjoy the break.”

“You know what I'm going to do on break?” Lucy says. “I've got it all planned. First I'm going shopping with my friends. I have to get caught up on everything I missed while I was gone. Then I'm going for a manicure. Florine shared the name of her favorite pink polish. I'm no fan of Florine, but she has great taste in cosmetics. And then I've got to call my acting coach and try to hit a few auditions. You never know . . .”

Cole rolls his eyes. I laugh. A lot has changed, but a lot hasn't.

“Look!” Marco says. Out the front window, Earth comes into view.

Seeing Earth from space on the day we left for the Academy was probably the coolest thing I've ever done. But somehow it's even more powerful now on the trip home. I know our planet is threatened; I hadn't known that then. And I know I have to defend it. I have no choice about that. It's what I was born to do. But it's a job I would have accepted on my own, even with all the Earth Force secrets.

As the craft touches down at the Earth Force Aeronautical Port, I try to spot my family in the crowd. I think I see Addy jumping up and down, but I can't be sure. It's hard to see out. Everyone is trying to find their families. I'm not the only one relieved to be home.

As soon as the clearance bell sounds, Mira leaps from her seat and slips to the front of the line. So much for good-byes. Before she steps off the craft, she spins. For a split second her eyes find mine, then she twirls back around and is gone. In my mind I see her dancing in her blue tank top and silver chain, just like the day we left for the EarthBound Academy.

As we wait to disembark, Marco grabs my arm from his wheelchair. “Ace, I'll catch you on the next tour. Be ready for some blast pack races.”

I shake Marco's hand, and he pulls me down for a hug. “You, too, Wiki,” he says to Cole, dragging him into an awkward three-way hug. Hugs aren't Cole's thing.

Lucy kisses me on the cheek. “Don't do anything silly, Jasper. You know, like throw yourself in front of a herd of charging wildeboars. We're counting on you.”

“Good-bye, Lucy,” I say. “I'm sure your friends will be psyched to have you back.”

“Oh, they will,” she says, stepping behind Marco's wheelchair to push him off the craft.

As we inch to the front, I can see the tarmac. Was it only six weeks ago we stood there, waiting to board?

Cole and I fall in line together. “I can't believe it's over,” I say.

“I know what you mean.”

When we reach the door to the craft, Cole turns to me. “Your sister was right.”

“What?”

“She said we'd make good first friends.”

“You heard that?”

“I don't miss much,” Cole says.

We step onto the ramp. I was right. It was Addy who I saw before. She's jumping up and down, waving her arms. She says something to my parents, and then they're all waving.

I probably imagine it, but I swear I can hear Addy's voice in my mind.

I'm so happy you're home, Jasper!

Me too, Addy. Me too.

My name may be on the cover, but a whole team of people helped make
Bounders
a book. I owe deep gratitude to many.

Thank you to my agent, David Dunton, who plucked
Bounders
out of the slush pile and found us the perfect home.

A huge heaping of gratitude goes to my supremely talented editor, Michael Strother. Michael's enthusiasm is contagious, his confidence in me is inspiring, and his vision for
Bounders
was spot-on.

Big thanks to the whole Simon & Schuster/Aladdin team for helping take
Bounders
from acquisition table to bookshelf, including Mara Anastas, Jon Anderson, Mary Marotta, Fiona Simpson, Lucille Rettino, Carolyn Swerdloff, Teresa Ronquillo, Tara Grieco, Anthony Parisi, Candace Greene McManus, Betsy Bloom, Michelle Leo, Christina Pecorale, Victor Iannone, Rio Cortez, Danielle Esposito, Karin Paprocki, Kayley Hoffman, and Ksenia Winnicki.

I am so grateful for my cover illustrator, Antonio Caparo, whose amazing art truly brought my imagination to life.

Thank you to all my writer friends who have helped in so many ways, through critiquing, beta reading, advice giving, and more. A special shout-out to Debbie Blackington, Julia Flaherty, Erin Fletcher, David Learned, Jen Malone, Lisa Rehfuss, Marilyn Salerno, Melissa Schorr, Neely Simpson, Carissa Taylor, the Yahoo YA/MG Writers Group, the Davis Square Crepes Crew, and the Sweet Sixteens.

An incredible group of young readers gave feedback on
Bounders
before it was acquired. Many thanks to Ella Benjamin, Hannah Dunton, Lillian Gates, Jenna Stowell, Joey Stowell, and Nathan Tesler.

A big cheer goes out to my fabulous friends who get me away from my computer screen, especially Nicole Benjamin, Paula Drake, Liz Fuller, and Joe Stowell who all indulged me in many conversations about
Bounders
and the publication process.

I am blessed with a supportive extended family. Many thanks to my parents, Lynne and Richard Swanson, and to the rest of the Swanson, Ogden, Tesler, and Anderson families.

Finally, the biggest bucket of gratitude goes out to the three guys who keep me going: Jamey, Nathan, and Gabriel. I love and appreciate you so much. Thank you for sticking by my side on this wild ride.

Nathan, my firstborn and first reader, you are a delight and an inspiration. This book is for you.

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

ALADDIN

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division

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First Aladdin hardcover edition January 2016

Text copyright © 2016 by Monica Tesler

Jacket illustration copyright © 2016 by Antonio Javier Caparo

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Jacket designed by Karin Paprocki

Interior designed by Mike Rosamilia

The text of this book was set in Adobe Garamond Pro.

This title has been cataloged with the Library of Congress.

ISBN 978-1-4814-4593-1 (hc)

ISBN 978-1-4814-4595-5 (eBook)