Sparked (The Metal Bones Series Book 1) Read Free Page B

lovebirds.
    “Vienna, you deserve a guy who’s just as great as you. Give him a chance,” Jayla said.
    “Please, it could be really fun,” Carmen added.
    They wanted to see me happy. I sighed. How could I stay mad?
    “It’s okay. I’ll go. If I don’t like him, though, none of this blind date stuff again, okay?”
    “That’s fine!” Carmen beamed.
    “His name is Chandler. He’s tall, cute, and, well, I’ll save the rest for your eyes!” Jayla winked.
    Can’t wait.
    “Don’t get your hopes up.”
    “That’s fine with us.” Carmen smiled.
    “I have to be home at six so let’s start studying. I have enough reading to do for the next two weeks.” I flipped a page and tried to concentrate.
    Surprisingly, the house smelled amazing when I walked in. The aroma of cheese, vegetables, and butter wafted through the front door. Music greeted me. Jack Savoretti’s, “No One’s Aware,” floated out of Mom’s studio.
    “I’m home.”
    Dad was watching TV, legs up, on the couch. Dad had red hair with a brown tint to it, which gave him an odd look when mixed with his gray eyes.
    The local news reporter was on TV. “Taxes will not be lowered.” She smiled. Her almost-pink hair nearly blinded me. “After President Mezzerette’s moving speech, Congress voted, with an unprecedented three-fourths of the house in agreement, to keep taxes raised. Take a look.”
    The screen flashed, and there was President Mezzerette at the podium. Her brown eyes beamed as she took in the senators. “The need for the military is indisputable. It would be irresponsible, and, I dare say, suicidal to leave the American public unprotected.” Her eyes glowed from the screen. “The Asian-American War five years ago decimated half our military, and the government has been fighting ardently and tirelessly to make a comeback. And, ladies and gentlemen, we have found a way. We have found an answer. Ladies and gentlemen”—she beamed a beautiful smile—“I am proud to bring you the wave of the future. A new dawn. A new coming of age. No longer will you have to sacrifice your children, no longer will you have to pray endlessly for their return. For now, with the establishment of robots, we will never have to send our children off to war again. We can keep our loved ones close. Our fathers. Our mothers. Our sons. Our daughters. Our sisters. Our brothers.” The congressmen cheered in the background. “To fill new and better jobs. For with robots at the front lines, we can move forward. We can move forward into a new and better era.”
    The screen flashed back toward the reporter with the almost-pink hair. “And there you have it, the hopeful installment of robots in the military. More breaking news today. Chris Denzel from Arizona is missing.” His picture flashed on the screen. “If you have seen him or heard anything about his disappearance, please contact the police immediately.”
    Dad clicked off the TV. “How was studying?”
    I had to crank my neck all the way back to look at him.
    “It’s studying.” I shrugged. I gestured to the TV. “Another missing person?”
    Dad sighed. “I don’t know why I bother watching anymore. The news is rarely good news.”
    I nodded. “This brings the number of missing to twenty-something now. Right?”
    “That we know about.”
    I put my bag on the sectional. “Mom painting?”
    “Yup. I actually got a peek this time. Something involving the beach.”
    “Wow. Surprised she let you see it.”
    “She didn’t. She left the door open.”
    “Ah.” I nodded. “Don’t tell her you saw anything.”
    “Wouldn’t dream of it.” Dad’s stomach rumbled. “Ready to eat? I’m starving.”
    I followed him to the kitchen.
    At least if we’re poisoned by Robotatouille, we would die together.
    The music went off in the studio. Mom would be joining us soon, the sooner to tell her about my escapade with Robotatouille. I sighed. I wish we were eating with Aunt Becky and Sydney today.
    Once