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

that.” The words came out in disjointed puffs of ragged breath. I was in such bad shape. When had that happened?
    “I did.” Mel stopped and turned, hands on her hips. “I’m mad at her, okay? And at Sam. But I shouldn’t be.” She gave a wry smile and made a helpless gesture with her hands. “I just felt like running.”
    “Does it help?” I used the hem of my shirt to mop sweat off my forehead.
    “Sometimes.” She grinned.
    “Guess maybe I should take up running, huh?” I watched the cheerleaders leap and flip-flop across the field, the pain in my jaw sharper now.
    Mel followed my eyes. “Maybe.”
    I heard footsteps behind us and turned, just in time to see Eddie approaching us.
    “Hi,” he said, his gaze edging past me to rest on Mel. “I thought I saw you out here.”
    Mel straightened her shoulders and brushed hair off her forehead. Even sweaty and red faced from running she looked gorgeous. “Here I am.”
    “What’s your next class?” Eddie fell into step beside her, forcing me off the path. “I’ll walk you.”
    I trailed after them, invisible once more. I pictured the smoky cloud of fury that clung to me as something real, obscuring me from view. I held onto the image. I could paint it.

Chapter Eight
    I headed to the front steps after school, waiting for Hannah. Mel had practice, but today was the one day Hannah didn’t have ballet after school. I expected to see her lounging against the bricks on the second landing, but she wasn’t there. I frowned, loitering until I realized she wasn’t going to show. Where could she be? We always hung out on the days she didn’t dance. Always. Was she pissed that I went after Mel at lunch? It’s not like I was taking sides. Racking my brains, I let myself be washed down to the street by the last of the crowd.
    I trailed one group of students until I reached the diner on Main. I was thirsty. A Coke would be good. I scrounged through my pockets and book bag until I came up with enough coins. Kids swarmed the low-slung building, buzzing in and out like bees in a hive. I nodded to a few I knew, but didn’t stop to talk. The air-conditioned chill sent goose bumps scattering across my bare arms. The dull roar of conversation was punctuated by the throb of the milkshake machine behind the counter. It was a dark blue sound that was occasionally shattered by the neon yellow clatter of cutlery scraping china.
    Weaving through the tables, I scanned the occupants as if I were searching for a group of friends. When I saw Hannah, it was almost by accident. She was squeezed into a booth toward the back, far away from the glare of the overheads. Her back was to me, but I recognized her hair, tasted its spice even from where I stood. Her head was bowed, pressed close to someone else’s. A boy. Blond. Sam Taylor.
    I froze. My eyes wouldn’t move away. Hannah shifted in her seat, tossing hair away from her face as she turned toward Sam. He laughed at something she said and slung his arm across her shoulders.
    Was this the new order? Sam came first? She hadn’t even bothered to mention she was ditching me this afternoon. I realized my teeth were grinding against each other, my jaw aching with the force. I couldn’t release it though. Whirling around, I bowled through the queue at the counter and slammed out the door.
    I stormed down the street wrapped in my personal black cloud. I had no right to be this angry. But today was the one day I got to see Hannah alone, without Mel, without the bickering and constant refereeing. I treasured that time. Clearly it meant little or nothing to Hannah.
    I had no destination in mind, but before too long I found myself at the bus stop. Jules. I needed to talk to Jules. She’d know how to deal with this situation. When it came to boys, Jules was an expert. I just hoped Mom wouldn’t be there. I couldn’t handle her right now.
    Tiptoeing up to the door of Jules’s room, I peeked inside. The chair by the bed was empty. Still