Read Online An Unstill Life by Kate Larkindale - Free Book Online

first, I sat down and draped my jacket over the seat on the left. I tossed my backpack over the one on the right and fixed my eyes on the door, waiting for them to come in. Sam strode in, followed by Jason Davis and three or four other boys. They paraded to the table by the door and stared at the kids who sat there until they picked up their lunches and scurried away.
    “Some power, huh?” Mel dumped her tray onto the table with a clatter that sent forest green lightning bolts blazing before my eyes.
    “Yeah. Some power.” I looked away from the royal table and turned back to my food. “Where’s Hannah?”
    “Coming. You know she has to scrape every calorie off her lunch before she can eat it.” Mel grinned, but her attention wasn’t on me. Her eyes roved the room, searching for something. Someone.
    “Yeah, I know.” I caught sight of Hannah’s auburn head in the queue and watched her argue with the lunch-lady. Ms. Garden was not known for her flexibility. Or her culinary skill. The pungent scent of old smoke filled the room, and I could see tell-tale wisps still clinging to the ceiling. That explained the burnt flavor in the gravy that smothered my overcooked meat.
    “Jesus!” Hannah flung herself into the chair with my backpack on it, knocking it to the floor. “Why is it so difficult to get a salad without that fattening goop on it?” She scraped creamy white dressing off a lettuce leaf with her finger, then stared at the finger with such distaste I almost laughed. It was like she thought the calories could be absorbed through her skin.
    “Dare you to lick it off,” I challenged.
    She threw me a withering look, pulled a tissue from her bag and wiped her finger clean. “Amanda Gallagher told me her brother saw Ms. Garden pick her nose over the hot-line last week. You’ll never catch me eating that crap.”
    I shrugged and sawed off another mouthful of leathery meat, not bothering to look up when a shadow fell across the table. We were out of cereal at home, and milk, so I’d skipped breakfast. I was hungry.
    “So.” The deep voice rumbled through my back and chest, dark and smoky. “Do you like scary movies, or funny ones, Han?”
    My head shot up. Sam Taylor stood by the table, one hand resting on Hannah’s shoulder as he bent to talk to her.
    “Look, Sam.” Hannah tried to shake his hand off. “About that… I… Um. Look, I don’t know if I can make it.”
    Beside me, I felt something move. Mel sat upright, eyes wide, everything about her taut as a wire. I thought if I touched her she might snap. So, she wasn’t dealing as well with the situation as she wanted us to think. I didn’t blame her. Maybe Sam was oblivious to how much she liked him, but Hannah wasn’t.
    “Seriously?” He swung himself into the seat on Hannah’s right that had just been vacated. “I thought it was a date.”
    Hannah looked like she wanted to drop through the earth’s crust. “Yeah… Well… Something came up, you know?” She glanced around, desperation showing in her face. “I… I have class on Saturday. Early. So…” Her voice quivered with the electric blue lie, but her eyes were hopeful.
    Good one, Hannah. Before Eddie had asked Mel out I would have encouraged Hannah to turn Sam down. Now it would make things worse. I flicked my heel back, giving Hannah’s shin a good kick along with a look I hoped appeared stern.
    “I promise to have you home early.” Sam leaned toward her. “You’ll be fresh for your class.”
    “Well, okay.” She smiled, her face brightening. “But nothing scary. I get nightmares.”
    “Awesome. I’ll pick you up at seven.” Sam grinned and strutted away, ensconcing himself back amongst his tribe at the table by the door.
    “That’s okay, isn’t it?” Hannah turned anxious eyes onto Mel. “You don’t mind?”
    Mel shrugged. “Doesn’t matter if I mind, does it?” She glanced down at her tray and pushed it away. I wouldn’t have touched it either. The lumpy