Mundahlia (The Mundahlian Era, #1) Read Free

our clothes off inspecting each other and called his mother then kicked him out of the house. After that, she acted as if she were going to have a heart attack because I had made her upset. I think that’s probably why I never had a boyfriend. Scratch that, I know that is why I never had a boyfriend. Well, at least one that’s lasted longer than a week. Ugh, high school. No comment.
    It was a little late to be switching schools, I’ll admit. But I would rather do that than sit at home and hear my parents yell at each other about how one makes the other miserable. It was as though being high school sweethearts had gone sour with time. Hopefully they resolve this thing or throw in the towel. To me, I had already accepted the idea of divorce. Sad, yet at the same time, better if it meant that they would be happier. Don’t get me wrong, if this cruise works and I get to keep both my parents without the awkwardness of shifting holidays and meeting possible “stepparents” once they started dating again, then I’d be one happy camper—it’s just, I’d give anything for it to be over so they could go back to being themselves.
    When I saw how many miles were left on a green road sign we passed, I sighed and reclined the passenger seat to lay down. Great, two hours left with Mrs. Quiet. What happened to the party girl cousin I remember? The one who would get home at five-in-the-morning with her shoes in her hands and her dress inside out.
    “You’re going to love Austin, Rini,” Celeste said, adjusting the speed of the windshield wipers as the rain began to pour even harder. “We have a lot of scenery and the schools are great. There is always an art show or other festivities going on downtown too.”
    “Oh, really?” I questioned, returning my gaze to the passing trees—green with the spirit of the coming spring. I could just imagine all of the trees roots soaking in all this water and ah-ing as they got their thirst quenched. It hadn’t rained like this in several months. A drizzle here and there, but never a storm.
    “And don’t worry, there is a mall too. Your mom told me how much you like to shop.” That wasn’t entirely true. I love to shop, but I also needed a place to go while my parents fought, and the only place I could think of going was to the mall a few blocks away from my house. I’d spend the days after school watching movies with my friends that were a grade level above me at the small but cozy theater, playing games in the stained-carpeted arcade that stank of cheese and sweat, or even volunteering at the local micro bookstore, rearranging all the books on the shelves. The manager didn’t care, it was never done anyway—and I’d even get an extremely good discount on books. I’d bring home a different one nearly every other night. Saving them up for when the fights began and I needed to leave mentally for a few hours. Books were my sanctuary when Celeste left and mommy Gloria died. A way to escape the noise of slamming doors, shattering glass, and the occasional curses that composed my daily life after my parents marriage went downhill. Neither of them cheated. They just—got tired of each other, I guess.
    “Cool,” I uttered, coming back from my thoughts.
    “Yeah,” Celeste’s face danced with expressions. I had almost forgotten she’d started talking. “You’re already a Junior right?”
    “Senior.”
    “Oh,” Celeste looked away with a tad bit of embarrassment. “Four years apart already, huh?” she finished quietly.
    “Yep. It’s been forever.”
    “Well, aren’t you happy that it’s already your last year of high school? Come on, after this you are done. Don’t you have like three months left anyway?” The ringlets in her dark kinked hair blew in the air conditioner.
    “Yeah, I guess,” I said, sinking farther into the seat.
    “You guess? Rini, it’s your senior year! You need to do something that you’ve never done before.”
    “You mean like get drunk, dance