Read Online Undead Much by Stacey Jay - Free Book Online

even the smell of coffee percolating didn’t summon the beasts from their lair. Mom was usually a freak about me drinking coffee, insisting it would decrease my bone density and infuse my cells with toxins and blah blah blah, but apparently she was too exhausted to worry about my vulnerable adolescent skeleton.
      I had a huge to-go cup of French roast in my hand when I opened her door and said goodbye. All she did was mumble, “Be careful” and something about seeing me later, and then roll over to hug Dad-who was also still abed even though he should have left for work at the airport a good thirty minutes ago. He was never late and Mom never slept in. It was strange. And scary.
      My mood was foul before I even arrived at school and only grew fouler as the day wore on. I was so not in the mood for acting normal. English and world history seemed utterly pointless. Why did I need to learn about popular trends in twentieth-century literature or the evolution of Islamic culture when I could end up in jail for the rest of my life?
      And who cared about the brilliant fund-raising event Monica and London had organized for Friday night? Sweetheart ice skating was not a giddy-making idea when you might have lost your sweetheart. Ethan hadn’t called or sent a text all morning, and he had to know what went down. If he was allowed to contact me, he would have done it by now.
      By lunchtime I hated my life and all the people happily chattering in the cafeteria. I hated raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens and all that crap. I also hated ravioli and green beans from a can and brownies that weren’t heavy enough. A brownie should be thick and weighty, not light and fluffy like some sort of cake. Brownies are NOT cake!
      “Put the brownie down and step away from your lunch tray.” He was whispering, but I would have known that voice anywhere.
      “You’re here!” I jumped off the chair I’d claimed in an abandoned corner of the lunchroom and flung myself into Ethan’s arms, squeezing until he groaned in pain. God, he smelled so good, like that spicy soap he used and shaving cream and boy. My boy, my boyfriend who hadn’t been told not to see me after all!
      “I’m here, but I’m not supposed to be, so let’s sneak while the sneaking is good,” he said, leaning down to grab my backpack when I finally released my death hold.
      “You’re not supposed to be?”
      “Nope. Good thing I’m not a compulsive rule follower anymore.” He smiled and grabbed my hand, but I could tell he wasn’t feeling any more lighthearted than I was. “Come on, I’m parked at the bottom of the hill. If we hustle, we’ll blend in with the rest of the people headed out to lunch.”
      Only seniors were supposed to go off campus for lunch, but I didn’t hesitate when Ethan pulled me out into the bright January day. My coat was still in my locker, but I didn’t care about freezing my butt off either. All I cared about was being with Ethan and away from school.
      “You know what? I don’t want to come back,” I said, a spring coming into my step as we made it past the teacher on duty without attracting attention. “I’m going to skip the rest of my classes.”
      “Sounds good,” he said, though usually Ethan would be the last one to encourage ditching school. It was just another reminder that I was in a heck of a lot of trouble. “That will give us more time.”
      “More time for what?”
      “I figured we should do some investigating of our-hey, are you okay?” Ethan asked as he opened the passenger’s door of his car.
      “Not really. But I’m better now that you’re here. I assume you heard the news.”
      “I did, and it’s ridiculous. I can’t believe they think you had any part in raising whatever those things were.”
      “Thanks. It’s nice that someone still believes in me.” There were tears stinging the corners of my eyes, but I sucked them back into wherever