Nevermore, the Complete Series Read Free Page A

and then turned and left.
    And there I was, alone on the bleachers. I reluctantly got up and walked off to my locker to collect my book bag. As I slowly walked through the gym I considered the possibility of calling my mom when I returned home. What would I even say to her, though? I was certain I wouldn't be able to control my fury and hurt, that it would begin with an outburst of accusations on how she decided her plans were more important, how Mark was more important than me...and then it dawned on me how similar this felt to when dad abandoned us eleven years ago. Had she realized this? I could feel the warmth of tears welling up behind my eyes and it was hard to hold it back as the pain and knowing seeped in. Was I doing something wrong to cause my parents to leave me? My pace quickened as I felt the tears trickling down my cheeks. I had to get out of here, before someone noticed...
     
    The sun had decided to peek out through the clouds a little and I was pleased to see the puddles were starting to dry up. The water on the asphalt was deeper than this morning, however, and I could feel the moisture seeping into my shoes. I was about four feet from my car before my feet were completely soaked. The tears were drying against my skin, and I hoped no one would notice as I passed through the parking lot. I stopped abruptly when I saw the boy from music class leaning up against the Alero. I gulped and cautiously walked up to him.
    “What are you doing?” I asked suspiciously.
    “I was waiting for you,” he said simply. As I looked him over, I noticed his clothing wasn't damp and his feet were not soaked, unlike mine. How had he managed to get through the parking lot unscathed?
    My brows furrowed. “And how’d you know this was my car?”
    “One of your friends told me.”
    “Oh, really?” I asked, “Which one?”
    He paused to think, as if he couldn't quite place the name. “A tall, blonde haired girl.”
    “Karen...” I whispered.
    “That was it!” he beamed, “she also mentioned that tomorrow is a special day for you.”
    “I told her not to tell anyone...”
    “Why would you do that?” he seemed genuinely confused.
    “I’ve just never really liked birthdays is all,” I muttered, eying him curiously. “And, why in the world would she tell you of all people that anyway?”
    “But you are blessed with another year of life,” he smiled brilliantly at me and ignored my question, then unexpectedly said, “I want to take you somewhere, if you are willing. Or perhaps I should say I would like for you to take me somewhere, I suppose.”
    “I don't even know you, and you want me to take you somewhere?” I was bewildered and yet enthralled that this boy was even talking to me.
    “We can introduce each other on the way,” he offered.
    I shook my head, uncertain. “Maybe some other time.”
    “It has to be now,” he insisted.
    “Give me one good reason why it has to be now.”
    “There's no time like the present?” he suggested with a grin. “Tomorrow you could be gone, or I could be gone and then we would never have this opportunity again.”
    “Fine,” I said as I took in his words, feeling depressed at the idea of going to an empty house, anyway – if not a little reckless, “But, I'm driving.”
    The boy eyed the car and nodded. “It is probably best that way, and as I corrected myself – I want you to take me somewhere.”
    “You don't know how to drive?” I inquired as I unlocked the passenger side door for him.
    “That's one way to put it,” he smiled lightly as he sat down.
    I walked over to the driver side and climbed in, started the ignition and glanced over at him. There was something comforting about his presence, but I couldn't quite place what it was. He directed me toward wherever our destination was, which eventually led us down a winding road that made me very nervous to drive on. We passed a field of feasting cows near a small, broken down house, and then everything grew