Reunion (A Psychological Suspense with Murder, Mystery and the Paranormal) Read Free Page B

at the adjacent wall and smiled.
    Studying her joyful face, Tanner thought, she’s probably thinking about Noah and how awesome he is. Tanner rolled his eyes. Pfft. I mean, I’m no James Bond exchange student like Noah, but I’m not so bad. He wished she would look like that when thinking about him.
    Tanner loaded his books into his arms and almost left when Noah showed up. Noah’s locker was at the end of the hallway, but he always managed to visit Lana before first period. Tanner looked into his locker mirror and watched the two lovebirds embrace.
    Noah towered over Lana. He stood six feet two and she was a petite five feet three. Tanner marveled at how composed Noah appeared at all times. He had a charismatic, yet distinguished, personality that enticed Tanner to listen to him when he spoke. Lana stretched up on her tiptoes and grabbed his neck. Noah squeezed her and whispered in her ear.
    “Hiya, little bird, you ready for class?”
    “Yes,” Lana said, wearing the same smile that she’d had on her face before he arrived.
    Lana visibly turned to mush every time she heard Noah’s British accent. Tanner had secretly watched them every day, all year long. One day she had told Tanner how privileged she felt to be with such a catch, and that she feared that, like Cinderella, the clock would strike midnight and he’d return to England without her. Tanner thought he’d never do that to Lana—but he kept that to himself. After all, she was the captain of the cheerleading squad, perpetually optimistic, outgoing and drop-dead gorgeous. Tanner looked at her with adoration. Noah had fallen in love with her the minute he laid eyes on her. At least that’s what he told her while Tanner was gathering his things for history class one day.
    Tanner looked at the hallway clock—8:06 a.m. I’m gonna be late, he thought, but he couldn’t stop looking in the mirror, which functioned like a television airing an early morning soap opera. Lana’s deep-blue eyes gazed at Noah with a tender innocence. Tanner never saw her face light up like that until
he
came along. It seemed she had only known awkward attempts at love by unskilled boys who had no idea how to care for someone of her caliber. Noah was different.
    Tanner didn’t despise Noah. He sort of liked him and felt happy for Lana. Besides, he appreciated the love lessons—love lessons that played out like a fairy tale. That’s what it looked like to him anyway.
    He’d learned a valuable lesson about love the day Lana had dropped her journal as she headed to class. She’d slammed her locker door closed and jetted down the hall. Tanner noticed right away that something had fallen out of her locker. When he reached down to pick it up, he couldn’t help but read a short blurb as he lifted it off the floor.
    I had a great day at school today. Noah left a poem in my literature book and a Hershey’s Kiss on my lunch tray. HE IS SO AWESOME! It’s probably way too early to say this, but I think that one day we’re going to get married. I know it seems impossible because he’s from England but…
    Tanner called her name and returned the journal to her. The lesson; leave poems and Hershey’s Kisses.
    At 8:08 a.m. Tanner was still peering into the mirror, discreetly moving his body as if he were actually doing something important. Noah brushed his fingers through Lana’s smooth brown ponytail. His robust frame pressed ever so gently against hers, making full-body contact.
    “I’m gonna miss you,” said Lana.
    Her typically strong voice grew weak in his presence. Her blueberry eyes sparkled as she looked up at the boy she hoped to wed.
    “I’m going to miss you too, little bird. But somehow I think we’re going to get through the next hour.” They both laughed. “And by the way, I dreamt about you last night.”
    Lana smiled, eyelashes fluttering.
    Noah whispered, “Do you want to know what it was about?”
    “Mmm-hmm.” Lana bit her lower lip.
    Her eyes studied him