Read Online Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan - Free Book Online

opened his menu and scanned over its contents.
    Once again, I stared at him. Who was this guy?
    May bounded up with Adam next to her. She was in the middle of telling him about basketball practice. Adam pulled out a chair and sat next to Christian, while May sat next to me. Just then the front door opened, and in walked Mike. I shuddered.
    “Hey, Adam! I thought I recognized your car, you big putz,” Mike called from across the diner. He waved the waitress out of his face and moved toward us.
    “What are you losers doing?” he joked, even though, to me, he sounded serious. He stole a chair from a nearby table and sat at the end next to May and Adam.
    “We just ran into each other,” May said.
    “Don’t you guys have anything better to do?” he sneered.
    “Don’t you?” I shot back.
    He glared at me. “What are you doing here? I didn’t think you had any friends.”
    “We just came from Llona’s basketball practice,” Christian said. He sat up straighter in his seat.
    “Did she fall on her face?” Mike asked. He motioned the waitress over.
    “Actually, she was amazing.”
    “Whatever. Girls can’t play sports.”
    “We can too,” May blurted. “In fact, I bet Llona could waste you at basketball.”
    “Yeah, right. I saw her play last year. My one-eyed dog could’ve played better,” Mike said, looking disgusted.
    “If you played her tonight,” Christian said, “she’d murder you.”
    “What can I get you?” the waitress asked from behind me.
    “Get me a double burger with extra cheese. And a large Coke,” Mike said, his lips wet with spit. The waitress turned to Adam, but Mike interrupted her. “And by the way, make sure the cook doesn’t drown the burger in ketchup. Last time I got one, I felt like I was drinking the soggy thing.”
    The waitress nodded, looking even more miserable. She moved around the table, taking our orders, and when she got to me, I noticed her eyes were glistening with tears. Her suffering tore at my heart. Instinctively, I reached out and touched her arm, wishing I could help. All of a sudden Light’s energy passed through me and warmed the skin beneath my palm. “Everything will be okay,” I said.
    The woman visibly relaxed as if I’d injected her with melatonin and, for a reason she probably didn’t understand, she smiled. “Thanks. It’s just been one of those days.” I returned the smile and gave her my order. When she turned to May, my eyebrows rose, and I mouthed the word “wow” to no one. I couldn’t believe I just did that. It had come naturally, like learning to walk. I never knew what my mother had meant when she said she could comfort others—now I did.
    “I’ll be right back,” Mike said, after the waitress left. He stood and walked over to a girl whose name I thought was Amanda.
    “Why does he have to be such a jerk all of the time?” May asked the guys.
    “That’s just Mike. He’s been like that for as long as I’ve known him. Everyone just ignores him,” Adam said in a lame attempt to justify Mike’s behavior.
    “Well, I think he needs his butt kicked,” May said. “The other day in Mr. Steele’s class”—my head snapped up—“Mike made a girl cry. It was horrible.”
    “What did Mr. Steele do?” I asked.
    “Gave him detention. He is the nicest teacher,” May said, her eyes drifting toward the heavens.
    Christian and Adam laughed. “I don’t think the girls like him because he’s nice.”
    “He can’t help it if he’s hot,” May said.
    “What do you think, Llona? Do you think Mr. Steele is hot?” Christian asked.
    May answered for me, “Are you kidding? Llona’s got it the worst. She’s in a complete daze every time she walks out of his class.” She turned to me. “Speaking of which, what’s your math grade like?”
    I shook my head. “Horrible. I don’t know what my problem is.”
    “I could tutor you if you’d like. I do okay in math,” Christian said. “And since I’m not as hot as Mr.