Read Online Sirenz Back in Fashion by Charlotte Bennardo - Free Book Online

least her friends did, because they stole glances at me, whispered, and snickered.
    When she finally did face me, she regarded me like I was something stuck to the bottom of her shoe.
    â€œAlana, um, can I talk to you for a second?” I asked.
    â€œWhy?” she snapped, a sneer on her face. I wanted this to be quick, but she was determined to turn it into a sideshow. Months of Shar’s waning interest must’ve really taken its toll. Caroline and Kate looked down their noses at me, covering their mouths to unsuccessfully mute hasty giggles.
    â€œJust for a second.”
    â€œI don’t have time for you—”
    â€œIt’s about Shar,” I cut her off.
    She looked confused.
    â€œHave you … heard from her?” It was a good place to start.
    She shook her head and narrowed her muddy eyes at me. “Who?”
    â€œShar. Sharisse Johnson.”
    â€œI don’t know any Sharisse.” Alana tossed her long brown hair back.
    â€œLook, I know things haven’t been the same between you two,” I said, choosing my words carefully, “but it’s really not her fault—”
    â€œYou look,” she said, annoyed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t know any Sharisse Johnson. None of us knows any Sharisse Johnson.” She inclined her head toward the girls, who shook their heads and laughed. “It’s bad enough to know Meg Wiley!”
    It was too rude.
    â€œYes you do,” I insisted, stepping up to her and putting my hand on the locker next to hers. “She’s your friend, my roommate, God help me. And this”—I banged on the locker door—“is her locker. She … ”
    The trio had backed up a step. Alana cracked a smile and then howled with laughter, her friends quick to join her.
    â€œOMG, you are insane !” she tittered. “This”—and she banged the locker just like I did—“is Caroline’s locker.” She pulled Caroline to her side, and said, “Prove it to her. Open it.” Caroline dutifully twirled the combination and the locker popped open. Pictures of Caroline, Alana, Kate, and some guys were plastered in neat rows. Nothing of Shar’s resided there.
    â€œSee,” Alana went on, “I guess being in a room all by yourself for so long has affected your mind. Better go to the nurse and see if she can give you something for that.”
    The three of them laughed again. Caroline slammed her locker shut and they walked off, leaving me standing there, horrified. The skin on the back of my neck prickled and stung.
    He erased her! Is it permanent? Is this what’ll happen to me?
    I didn’t want to think about anything the future might hold in store. I figured that thanks to Alana’s networking, the female population of the school would soon think I was a loon and Hades’ wonderful gift would have the male segment panting at my heels. Together, those things would be a lethal combination.
    Eventually, I made my weary way back to my half-empty dorm room; there was nowhere else to go. Inside, I was once again confronted by Shar’s complete absence.
    Suddenly I heard a loud buzz coming from the direction of my desk. In the space I’d made last night by swiping my books aside rested an iPhone—the newest generation of the one Hades had given to us for our first assignment. It buzzed and buzzed, and the screen blinked with a red light. I snatched it up and a text flashed on the screen.
    Margaret, I thought this would be of use. And just in case, I took the liberty of blocking some of the features so there won’t be any awkward calls to anyone who shouldn’t be involved in our business, like last time.
H.
    My hand started to shake and the thing buzzed again. A new text popped up.
    That’s no way to treat the fleece! Hang it up!
    â€œHang it up?!” I squawked, throwing the iPhone on my bed and snatching up the