The Glass Wall (Return of the Ancients Book 1) Read Free Page A

good on him.
    I became aware of an awkward pause. I didn’t know what to say. I’d just obviously given him the once over.
    Blushing, I grunted, “Ok.” I blushed more. Ok wasn’t exactly a witty thing to say.
    I was rattled, but then, he was probably used to girls acting silly in front of him.
    “My name is Rafael,” he introduced himself. “Ajax just wanted to meet your dog.”
    I glanced at Tigger.
    He was still asleep with his head under the rear tire, oblivious to the Doberman sniffing his hindquarters.
    “That’s Tigger,” I said. “He isn’t my dog.”
    Rafael nodded, but looked faintly confused.
    “I’m Sydney,” I explained, feeling a little stupid. He probably couldn’t care less that Tigger wasn’t mine. “I just got here myself a couple of hours ago. Tigger belongs to the Mackenzies … my foster parents.” I hooked my thumb over my shoulder at the neon blue house.
    “Ah!” Rafael smiled. “Then, we are both new here.”
    He was strikingly handsome when he smiled.
    The sun sparkled a little off his cheek, catching my attention. I squinted curiously. If I didn’t know better, I could have sworn he was wearing glitter on his face.
    “Rafael!” A blond-haired girl called as she ran across the street to join us.
    She seemed about my age, but our similarities ended there. She was stunning, slim, and sophisticated. She wore a dark tank top with expensive brown leather boots, heavy black eyeliner around her blue eyes, and she had a dusting of glitter across her nose.
    “My sister Harmony,” Rafael said, looping a brotherly arm about her shoulder.
    Harmony blinked and sent him a curious look, but she smiled at me warmly enough. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
    I eyed them both. They were remarkably alike, even down to the eye makeup and glitter. I couldn’t resist asking, “Are you twins?”
    Harmony laughed. It was a silver tinkle of a laugh. “Heavens bells, no! Rafael is just a baby. I have to look after him!”
    It was Rafael’s turn to send her an odd look before turning back to me. “Well, it was a pleasure to meet you. I do believe it’s almost time for tea.”
    “Tea?” I found myself repeating before I could stop.
    “Ah, yes, would you care for some?” Harmony asked with an inviting smile. “Rafael does like his tea, white tea with a hint of jasmine.”
    “No, I’m good,” I said. Maybe Al was right and they were speaking in some kind of drug code. “I … don’t do tea,” I added, just in case.
    I watched them walk back to their house and pretended to wax the truck for a few minutes before giving up and going inside.
    Al and Betty sat on the couch in the family room, sharing a bowl of popcorn.
    “I could sing it better than that,” Al was saying.
    “Of course, honey,” Betty said and looked up as I entered. Raising her hand, she mouthed the words “Wait for a commercial.”
    I did.
    When someone began to shout about a mattress sale, I handed Al his hat.
    “They came over and introduced themselves and left,” I said.
    “Really?” Al perked up.
    “Rafael and his sister Harmony—” I began.
    “Rafael?” Grace interrupted, appearing behind me. She continued in a dreamy tone, “His name is Rafael? Do you think he has a girlfriend?”
    “Well, it was a good thing Tigger was there to protect you.” Al nodded firmly.
    I snorted but quickly converted it into a cough.
    “Did they say anything else?” Al asked.
    “Just that they like tea, white tea, with a hint of jasmine,” I answered, watching Al frown as he processed this information. I didn’t think it was a drug reference. He’d obviously never heard of tea used as a code word before either.
    “Tea,” he murmured, tapping his chin.
    “White tea is very healthy,” Betty chimed in. “Oh, look, commercials are over.”
    Immediately, they both fell silent and began to watch TV, simultaneously dipping their hands into the bowl of popcorn.
    Grace had long since disappeared.
    Knowing I wasn’t going