Krysta's Curse Read Free Page B

our
graveyard, I think we’ll make ourselves at home right here.” Ed
made a point of looking around the entire bathroom and resting his
good eye on an orderly shelf of lotions. Was he threatening my
moisturizers?
    Stepping in front of the lotions, I barred
Ed’s path before he destroyed any more of my stuff. I could feel my
heart racing wildly. Bryon would be here any minute and I hadn’t
even retouched my makeup.
    “No, you have to go. Do you want my study
partner to think I’m a freak?” I tried to fan them away, like they
were clouds of smoke, but they just continued to stare like
idiots.
    At the familiar sound of a distant chime, my
blood froze. “The doorbell!”
    Crossing her arms across her chest, Gertrude
tapped her foot. “Then promise you’ll help us.”
    “I can’t.” Turning toward the mirror, I made
a hasty attempt to smooth my unruly hair.
    “Suit yerself.” Ed shrugged.
    The deep, muffled sound of a familiar voice
assailed my ears.
    “Oh-mi-god!” I shrieked. “I hear Bryon. Dad
must have let him in.”
    “Krysta, your friend is here.” My dad spoke
through the door. “You can study in your room if you leave the door
open.”
    “NO!” I yelled at the door. Facing the
ghosts, I turned my lips in to a pout and batted my eyes. “Please
leave. What if I find you an old house to haunt?”
    “We want our graveyard back,” Ed answered
evenly.
    “Who are you talking to?”
    I jumped, dropping the contents from the
medicine cabinet on the floor.
    Bryon was on the other side of the door.
    “Nobody.” I tried to sound casual, but I
could feel the shakiness in my voice. “Go wait in the living room.
I’ll be right out.” I kneeled, and once again, scooped makeup into
the bag.
    “Your dad and your sister are watching a
movie in the living room,” Bryon said.
    I rolled my eyes. Dad’s newest girlfriend
looked like she’d just graduated high school. “She’s not my
sister.”
    “Oh. You okay?”
    Even through the door, I could feel Bryon’s
sincerity. Any other guy wouldn’t have asked if I was okay, but
Bryon was different. That’s why I’d been thrilled when Mrs. Jackson
made him my study partner. I couldn’t tell him why I was still
stuck in the bathroom, though; I needed an excuse.
    “Yeah, I’m just putting on my ghosts,” I
blurted. “Your what?”
    The old people laughed hysterically.
    How childish. Weren’t they like 200 by now?
When were they going to grow up?
    Don’t be an idiot, Krysta. Calm down, breathe.
    “My clothes. I just took a shower and I’m
putting on my clothes.”
    Nice save.
    “Okay, I’ll clear off your desk and get
started.” Listening to the sound of Bryon’s retreating footsteps, I
breathed a sigh of relief, slumping my back against the door. When
Ed and Gertrude floated through me and into my bedroom, my pulse
jumped. Not cool. They were going to mess with him.
    “Get back here!” I threw open the door,
running smack into Bryon’s chest.
    Stunned, I looked up into the palest blue
eyes I’d ever seen. A girl could get lost in the heat of his gaze.
Until I remembered them .
    Bryon quirked a brow. “I didn’t go
anywhere.” “Oh.” Totally embarrassed, I stepped back and felt the
flames race up my chest and across my cheeks. He must have thought
I was yelling at him.
    Hearing Ed’s chuckle, I stole a quick glance
at the ceiling and spotted them hovering above Bryon’s head. I bit
my bottom lip.
    Please don’t do anything I’ll regret.
    Resting his chin in his hand, Bryon
smothered a laugh while looking at my midsection. “You forgot to
zip.”
    “Ho!” My feet made a hasty about-face, while
I struggled with the zipper which was caught in my underwear.
Grimacing, I recalled my response just a few seconds ago. What does ‘ho’
mean, anyway? Get it together, Krysta.
    Turning around, I brushed my hand through my
hair, a lame attempt at looking cool, but Bryon wasn’t looking at
me. His head jerked from side to side before he