Team Human Read Free Page B

freaking you out, is he? He’s just some idiot vampire who wants to go to high school. Which makes him even more idiotic than the regular kind.”
    â€œYeah,” Anna said, so low I could barely hear her. “Can I—can I talk to you, Mel? Alone.”
    Ty and Cathy were talking about some vampire documentary they’d seen and how accurate it was. They hadn’t noticed us.
    â€œOf course. C’mon.”
    Even Anna’s walk was slow, hesitating a little, as if she were sleepwalking.
    She and her mom had seemed like they wanted to be left alone after her dad left. I know I have a tendency to stick my nose in, so after a few unanswered calls I’d tried to take the hint.
    Maybe I’d taken the hint too well, I thought as Anna stopped in the shadowy hallway and turned to face me. Maybe Anna needed a friend, and I hadn’t been there for her.
    â€œIt might be nothing,” Anna said abruptly. “But I thought—you’re good at dealing with things. When stuff goes wrong, you always take care of it.”
    â€œThat’s me. Take Carer of Things. I should become a caretaker. Of … things.”
    Anna didn’t smile. I couldn’t blame her: I was too worried to put forward my best effort.
    â€œIf something’s wrong, Anna, tell me.”
    â€œMy mom’s acting really weird.”
    â€œI guess that’s normal—” I began, but Anna made an impatient gesture.
    â€œNot like that. Not just grief. She disappears and she won’t tell me where she’s going. She has nightmares and wakes up screaming. She acts like she’s got a secret.”
    â€œWhat kind of secret?”
    Anna hesitated. “I think it’s something to do with the school. She’s been spending a lot of time here.”
    Anna’s mom is our principal, so her spending a lot of time at school isn’t exactly unusual. Anna must’ve seen the doubt on my face.
    â€œIt’s dumb. It’s dumb, I know it is. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
    â€œNo,” I said. “No, it’s—it makes sense that she might want to throw herself into her work, right?”
    â€œI guess,” Anna said. “Look, forget I said anything. It’s cool.”
    She took a few steps away from me and then back.
    Using my uncanny powers of observation, I could somehow sense it was not cool.
    â€œAnna.” I put out a hand and stopped her pacing. “It’s not dumb. I’m glad you told me.”
    â€œIt’s probably nothing.”
    Under her thick red curls, she looked white as paper. That hair made sure she got called Annie, as in Little Orphan, for years until two things happened: She got hot, and her dad left.
    â€œWell, let me make sure,” I said. “I’ll keep an eye out. I’ll see what’s going on.”
    Anna still looked uncomfortable. Being the principal’s kid isn’t the easiest thing. She tends to keep people at a distance.
    â€œIt’s not that big of a deal. I just … I just wanted to let you know what’s going on. That’s all. Sorry I haven’t been in touch lately.”
    â€œHey. No problem.” I gave her a quick hug. “You’re my friend. Anything that makes you feel better is a big deal to me.”
    â€œYeah?” Anna smiled, a tiny smile. “Thanks.” After a pause, she added: “We’d better be getting back.”
    I nodded. “Something momentous could be happening. The beautiful Francis could have turned his head and given us a view of his amazing profile.”
    â€œHow many days do you give it until someone accidentally on purpose cuts themselves to get his attention?”
    â€œAh, spilled blood, the vampire lover’s low-cut top,” I said. “Personally, I’d prefer a guy who wants to see my boobs.”
    â€œYou’re all class, Mel,” said Anna as we went back into the lunchroom to find Francis standing