B0075M2D1U EBOK Read Free Page B

chased me down the hallway. I scurried up the stairs, using my hands as leverage on the steps as he grabbed at my ankles. “MOMMMM! Leo’s grabbing me!” I squealed. “I AM NOT!” He retorted, while still struggling to hang on to my left foot as I kicked him in the face with my right. He turned his face and exclaimed, “Geesh Ruby! Do you ever wash your feet!?”
    “ Shut up. Mom told me to wake you up. You have chores Dragonbreath.” Ugh. Little brothers are so immature. My mother finally turned off the vacuum and came down the hall to investigate the ruckus we were causing. Leo instantly let me go and I scrambled up the stairs.
    “ Hey Ma. ‘Sup?” my brother casually nodded as he flicked his shaggy, sandy blonde hair out of his eyes and leaned against the staircase railing. My mother, not a stupid woman, knew we were up to our typical sister-brother shenanigans and sternly scolded, “Get to work, Leo.”
    I finally finished my chores around 11:30 a.m. Just as I was reaching into my dresser to put on my swimsuit to go to the lake, I heard the familiar soda-pop fizzing sound behind me. I turned with a smile. There, suddenly standing in my room were Anya and Brennan. I don’t know how they could keep doing that, coming up out of thin air (well, swirling misty air) and never get caught. Since I introduced them to my family and Jeremy four years ago, they’ve never accidentally appeared in front of them. Boy. That would be a shocker – huh? Anya said it has something to do with their magic and how they can sense if I’m alone or whatever. I have no idea. It’s really over my head, so I don’t try to overanalyze it.
    “ I’m glad you guys popped in,” I said, “Jeremy wants to hang out at the lake today.”
    “ Yeah, cool,” answered Brennan. Anya added, “We just have to pop over to our house and get our suits.” Anya looked simply radiant, standing there in silver flip flops, white shorts, a bright yellow tank top and her shimmery beautiful black hair curled up just right. Brennan looked…eh. He looked like Brennan always looked. Kind of sloppy. He had on khaki cargo shorts, a faded blue t-shirt, and his dark hair was sticking up in every direction. He was about five or six inches taller than me and I suppose he had a decent build compared to some of the boys I knew, although I’ve never really given it much thought. He’s usually annoying me so much that I can’t get past the pain-in-the-ass part of him. Oh, and he was barefoot. I knew why I was barefoot; I was standing in my own house. But why the hell was he? Even I put shoes on when I go places.
    “ Do you ever wear shoes?” I shook my head at Brennan. He looked down; seemingly unaware that he wasn’t wearing any. “Huh. Guess I forgot. No biggie. We’ve got to go back to the cottage anyway, right, Anya?” Anya nodded.
    “’ Kay, hurry up then. I told Jeremy we’d meet him at the lake. Usual spot.” I said. “Now get out. I gotta change.” I shoved at Brennan’s shoulders and started to shoo them away. Suddenly, I was pushing at nothing and a huge “POP!” startled me still. Although they usually don’t surprise me when they arrive, they almost always scare the crap out of me when they leave. You see, when fairies “disappear” it isn’t a slow fizzle, like when they appear. It’s a quick POP, like a cork popping out of a champagne bottle. And then they’re gone. Just that fast. I quickly put on my red tank swim suit, pulled on my jean cutoffs and slipped on my white (well, kind of grey now) Converse. I went to the linen closet in the hallway, grabbed a beach towel and draped it around my neck. I hurried down the stairs and headed for the back door.
    “ Hey! Where ya goin’ Scooby?” my brother yelled from the kitchen. Nice. Ever since my brother realized that the cartoon dog’s name rhymed with mine, he’s called me it ever since. “None of your freakin’ business Cleopatra!” I hollered back as the screen door