Read Online Under the Moon's Shadow by T. L. Haddix - Free Book Online
Authors: T. L. Haddix
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join us here tonight. Ethan.”
Looking out over the well-lit field, Beth was surprised. “Light turnout. I figured there’d be more kids here.”
The principal shrugged. “Well, most of the science classes are here, at least. I guess staying up until the wee hours didn’t appeal to as many students and parents as we’d thought it would. Even if it was to watch a once-in-a-lifetime event.”
“That’s a shame,” Ethan said, glancing up at the clear sky. “It’s the perfect night for it.”
“True. Oh, well. Win some, lose some. Why don’t the two of you go ahead and get comfortable? I’ll find you in a little while to answer some questions, Beth.”
“Sounds good.”
As they made their way across the field to a spot a little distance away from the crowd, several people stopped them to say hello. “Between you and me, we have to know most of the people here,” Beth said.
Ethan sighed as he spread the blanket they’d brought on the ground and sat down. “Yeah, and by now, most of those people are speculating about us.”
“So? I didn’t realize it bothered you so much, the idea of having our names linked.”
Before he could respond, three giggling teenagers came up and plopped down at his feet. The boldest of the three spoke, twirling her hair around a finger flirtatiously. “Hey, Detective. Did you bring your gun?”
To Beth’s surprise, a flush spread across his cheeks. “Girls. Don’t you have something better to do?”
“Nope,” their leader, a statuesque blonde Beth thought was a cheerleader, said with a winsome smile. “We thought we’d come keep you company.” She moved a little closer to his feet, and he quickly drew his knees up to his chest, his scowl darkening.
“As you can see, I’m not alone. So you can toddle back over to your friends. I really don’t want to have to go hunt down your parents, girls.”
When the cheerleader looked at Beth, she appeared just a little uncertain. “I thought you were single, Detective.”
“Amber, even if I was single, I don’t waste my time on little girls,” he told her, not bothering to hide his displeasure.
The girl’s eyes widened and filled with tears. Standing, she gestured for her friends to follow her and they left, one of them shooting a dirty look back at Beth and Ethan as they walked.
“Ouch,” Beth said. He scowled at her and she held up a hand. “I know, you had to do it, but it still was painful to watch. How long has that been going on?”
He ran a hand over his hair. “A couple of weeks. I was with the group that broke up one of their little parties out at Amber’s house, and she’s tormented me every blessed time I’ve seen her since. I’ve tried to be nice, I’ve tried ignoring her, and nothing has worked.”
She couldn’t help smiling. “Poor Ethan. It must be hard to be so attractive.”
“You think it’s funny. It’s not. If she gets a wild hair in her little perky brain, she can ruin me without even trying.”
Beth sobered. “I know. I’m just teasing. Have you talked to her parents?”
“I did. Her mother is just an older version of Amber.” He shuddered, and Beth wasn’t entirely sure it was faked.
Bumping his shoulder with hers, she leaned against him for a second before straightening. “Well, Detective, I’m going to hope for the best. Maybe seeing us here together will stop her, especially after you called her a child. Even if it does irk you to have share a blanket with me, something good should come out of this, right?”
Principal Dunfries moved to stand in front of the crowd just then, clapping his hands and calling for attention. “We’re going to turn the lights out now. Remember, no student couples on a blanket without an adult present, and if you have to leave, you check with the teachers at the gate. Let’s have fun, people.” He motioned, and just like that, the lights were turned off.
As the bulbs dimmed and the crowd’s eyes adjusted to the dark, an
Looking out over the well-lit field, Beth was surprised. “Light turnout. I figured there’d be more kids here.”
The principal shrugged. “Well, most of the science classes are here, at least. I guess staying up until the wee hours didn’t appeal to as many students and parents as we’d thought it would. Even if it was to watch a once-in-a-lifetime event.”
“That’s a shame,” Ethan said, glancing up at the clear sky. “It’s the perfect night for it.”
“True. Oh, well. Win some, lose some. Why don’t the two of you go ahead and get comfortable? I’ll find you in a little while to answer some questions, Beth.”
“Sounds good.”
As they made their way across the field to a spot a little distance away from the crowd, several people stopped them to say hello. “Between you and me, we have to know most of the people here,” Beth said.
Ethan sighed as he spread the blanket they’d brought on the ground and sat down. “Yeah, and by now, most of those people are speculating about us.”
“So? I didn’t realize it bothered you so much, the idea of having our names linked.”
Before he could respond, three giggling teenagers came up and plopped down at his feet. The boldest of the three spoke, twirling her hair around a finger flirtatiously. “Hey, Detective. Did you bring your gun?”
To Beth’s surprise, a flush spread across his cheeks. “Girls. Don’t you have something better to do?”
“Nope,” their leader, a statuesque blonde Beth thought was a cheerleader, said with a winsome smile. “We thought we’d come keep you company.” She moved a little closer to his feet, and he quickly drew his knees up to his chest, his scowl darkening.
“As you can see, I’m not alone. So you can toddle back over to your friends. I really don’t want to have to go hunt down your parents, girls.”
When the cheerleader looked at Beth, she appeared just a little uncertain. “I thought you were single, Detective.”
“Amber, even if I was single, I don’t waste my time on little girls,” he told her, not bothering to hide his displeasure.
The girl’s eyes widened and filled with tears. Standing, she gestured for her friends to follow her and they left, one of them shooting a dirty look back at Beth and Ethan as they walked.
“Ouch,” Beth said. He scowled at her and she held up a hand. “I know, you had to do it, but it still was painful to watch. How long has that been going on?”
He ran a hand over his hair. “A couple of weeks. I was with the group that broke up one of their little parties out at Amber’s house, and she’s tormented me every blessed time I’ve seen her since. I’ve tried to be nice, I’ve tried ignoring her, and nothing has worked.”
She couldn’t help smiling. “Poor Ethan. It must be hard to be so attractive.”
“You think it’s funny. It’s not. If she gets a wild hair in her little perky brain, she can ruin me without even trying.”
Beth sobered. “I know. I’m just teasing. Have you talked to her parents?”
“I did. Her mother is just an older version of Amber.” He shuddered, and Beth wasn’t entirely sure it was faked.
Bumping his shoulder with hers, she leaned against him for a second before straightening. “Well, Detective, I’m going to hope for the best. Maybe seeing us here together will stop her, especially after you called her a child. Even if it does irk you to have share a blanket with me, something good should come out of this, right?”
Principal Dunfries moved to stand in front of the crowd just then, clapping his hands and calling for attention. “We’re going to turn the lights out now. Remember, no student couples on a blanket without an adult present, and if you have to leave, you check with the teachers at the gate. Let’s have fun, people.” He motioned, and just like that, the lights were turned off.
As the bulbs dimmed and the crowd’s eyes adjusted to the dark, an
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