Read Online A Shimmer of Angels by Lisa M. Basso - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lisa M. Basso
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in the blue cafeteria table at my sneakers. “Well, think about it,” I prodded, pinning my arms against my stomach. “It’s a pretty big coincidence. And he just happened to be in the crowd outside when they took her body away. Convenient, right?”
“If there was a crowd then there must have been plenty of people outside the school then.”
“Yeah, but … still.”
The din in the cafeteria carried to our corner table, reminding me we weren’t alone. Yesterday he had tried to join us. What if he tried again today? I checked over my right shoulder, and when I didn’t see shining, I turned and looked over my left one. Nothing. He wasn’t in the cafeteria. Where could he be?
Lee scoffed at me.
“What?”
“Nothing. It’s just that when you do that, the looking over both shoulders thing, you prove my own conspiracy theory right.”
“Which is?” I had to know what he believed, so I could make sure it was nothing close to the truth.
“That in Arizona you were some cool teenage super spy and you and your family moved because things got too hot there for you. And not temperature wise. So since you’re hardwired with all this cool Kung Fu knowledge, you’re always looking over your shoulder, watching and waiting for the next attack.”
I almost laughed, but I couldn’t afford to let him take me off track. I was determined to keep him away from the new kid. “You’re not even giving it any thought. There’s something … off about him.”
“Have you even tried talking to him?”
I pushed my sandwich away for the second day in a row, worrying my lower lip between my teeth. I’d never tried to get to know one of the winged hallucinations before. I’d spent most of my time trying to avoid them. Maybe that was the problem. I’d never seen wings on someone I knew personally. If Lee was going to make friends with the new kid—with Cam—I had two choices: quit being Lee’s friend, or find a way past the wings.
Dr. G had told me the key to my sanity was knowledge. He was right. It was time for me to get to know the boy with the wings and face this thing head on. I was done running.
Chapter Twelve
After lunch and Music class, I sat across from Cam in History. He focused on note-taking. His wings dipped up and down with every breath he took.
“Is there something I can help you with?” His gaze locked onto mine before I could pretend to be studying anything but him. His tone was inquisitive and curious, while his eyes invited the truth.
My fingers tensed beneath the table. When I spoke, there was far too much inflection in my voice. “Uh, no.”
I flung my gaze down to my notebook. Several tortured minutes later, when I finally managed to convince myself he was refocused on class, I glanced up.
He was focused all right. On me.
The hypnotic flow of those remarkable wings drew me in again. His eyes narrowed, a question tightening his forehead. “What are you looking at?” He whispered.
“What do you mean?” I kept my voice low, covering almost flawlessly this time.
He frowned at me, then turned his attention back to class. Mr. Barnes scribbled several dates on the chalkboard, linking them with names of famous Civil War … generals, I think.
This was stuff I should probably know. I copied everything down, noticing I was two pages behind in the textbook. I flipped the pages and looked away. I’d always hated history. So boring. Mr. Barnes droned on and on.
A shaft of sunlight drew my eyes toward the window. Actual freaking sun! I sat back in my seat so I wouldn’t rush off toward the window and get detention or something. Shimmering gold, like light off a sparkler, pulled me back to Cam’s wings. The sun made them glow.
His wings jerked, their immeasurable wingspan opening so quickly I didn’t have time to look away. The breeze they created shifted my hair into my eyes. I looked up at him from beneath its cover. With trembling fingers, I reached up and pushed my dark hair
“If there was a crowd then there must have been plenty of people outside the school then.”
“Yeah, but … still.”
The din in the cafeteria carried to our corner table, reminding me we weren’t alone. Yesterday he had tried to join us. What if he tried again today? I checked over my right shoulder, and when I didn’t see shining, I turned and looked over my left one. Nothing. He wasn’t in the cafeteria. Where could he be?
Lee scoffed at me.
“What?”
“Nothing. It’s just that when you do that, the looking over both shoulders thing, you prove my own conspiracy theory right.”
“Which is?” I had to know what he believed, so I could make sure it was nothing close to the truth.
“That in Arizona you were some cool teenage super spy and you and your family moved because things got too hot there for you. And not temperature wise. So since you’re hardwired with all this cool Kung Fu knowledge, you’re always looking over your shoulder, watching and waiting for the next attack.”
I almost laughed, but I couldn’t afford to let him take me off track. I was determined to keep him away from the new kid. “You’re not even giving it any thought. There’s something … off about him.”
“Have you even tried talking to him?”
I pushed my sandwich away for the second day in a row, worrying my lower lip between my teeth. I’d never tried to get to know one of the winged hallucinations before. I’d spent most of my time trying to avoid them. Maybe that was the problem. I’d never seen wings on someone I knew personally. If Lee was going to make friends with the new kid—with Cam—I had two choices: quit being Lee’s friend, or find a way past the wings.
Dr. G had told me the key to my sanity was knowledge. He was right. It was time for me to get to know the boy with the wings and face this thing head on. I was done running.
Chapter Twelve
After lunch and Music class, I sat across from Cam in History. He focused on note-taking. His wings dipped up and down with every breath he took.
“Is there something I can help you with?” His gaze locked onto mine before I could pretend to be studying anything but him. His tone was inquisitive and curious, while his eyes invited the truth.
My fingers tensed beneath the table. When I spoke, there was far too much inflection in my voice. “Uh, no.”
I flung my gaze down to my notebook. Several tortured minutes later, when I finally managed to convince myself he was refocused on class, I glanced up.
He was focused all right. On me.
The hypnotic flow of those remarkable wings drew me in again. His eyes narrowed, a question tightening his forehead. “What are you looking at?” He whispered.
“What do you mean?” I kept my voice low, covering almost flawlessly this time.
He frowned at me, then turned his attention back to class. Mr. Barnes scribbled several dates on the chalkboard, linking them with names of famous Civil War … generals, I think.
This was stuff I should probably know. I copied everything down, noticing I was two pages behind in the textbook. I flipped the pages and looked away. I’d always hated history. So boring. Mr. Barnes droned on and on.
A shaft of sunlight drew my eyes toward the window. Actual freaking sun! I sat back in my seat so I wouldn’t rush off toward the window and get detention or something. Shimmering gold, like light off a sparkler, pulled me back to Cam’s wings. The sun made them glow.
His wings jerked, their immeasurable wingspan opening so quickly I didn’t have time to look away. The breeze they created shifted my hair into my eyes. I looked up at him from beneath its cover. With trembling fingers, I reached up and pushed my dark hair
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