Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
“Alchera!” I hear a man calling.
He sounds familiar, and I want to turn around to see who he is, but I can’t break out of the fear and panic that holds me in its grasp.
Dreadful chaos surrounds me. Trees are being uprooted, and one whips past my head, a branch missing my face by mere inches.
“Alchera, we have to move. Dammit!” Strong hands grab hold of me, yanking me tightly to a firm chest. I feel a comforting warmth flow through me.
Before I can turn to see who it is, everything mercifully darkens.
“Jane, wake up!”
Hearing Molly snap while shaking the living hell out of me has my eyes popping open.
“What?” I gasp as I shoot into a sitting position.
“Wake up so we can talk.”
When my eyes focus on her smiling face, I have to suppress the urge to slap her. “Geez, woman. You could at least make me coffee if you’re going to wake me up so early.”
Ignoring my comment, she asks, “What time did you get home?”
I slump back on the bed and let out a groan as I snuggle into my pillow while mumbling, “Just after ten.”
“So late? Were you with Ryan?”
“Yes,” I mutter around a yawn.
I’m in no mood to be interrogated.
“This hot guy is into you, and I want to know why.”
“We’re just friends.”
When I remember the nightmare I had, the sleepy feeling vanishes.
I climb out of bed and say, “I’ll walk to school. You can go.”
As always, I’m ignored.
“After what I saw yesterday, you expect me to believe there’s nothing but a friendship going on between the two of you? What did you do after school?”
She’s really starting to annoy me. From being alone most of the time to having someone buzzing around me every damn morning is one hell of an adjustment.
“We hung out and grabbed something to eat at the diner. He just wants to be friends, so drop it now. The way you’re going on, you’d swear I’m sleeping with the damn guy!”
I bite my lip when I see her smile grow bigger.
“He’s only been here three days. There’s no way we’re having sex!” I exclaim while shaking my head hard. ‘Get your mind out of the gutter.”
“Fine. Don’t tell me everything,” Molly says as she walks to the door.
The smile on her face as she walks out of my bedroom tells me the whole school is going to think I’m having sex with Ryan before classes even start.
Shit. I screwed up.
Not wanting Ryan’s reputation destroyed, I hurry out of the room and catch up to Molly at the top of the stairs.
“Please don’t spread any rumors,” I beg. “Ryan’s a nice guy, and we’re really just friends. I promise.”
She lets out a heavy sigh as she heads down the stairs. “Fine, but I’ll only keep quiet if you make sure Ryan’s at the party I’m throwing.”
“Okay,” I lie because I have no idea whether Ryan’s into parties. “Do your parents know about the party?”
“Of course not,” she chuckles.
“Did you tell Stephen?”
She shrugs. “You know he doesn’t care about what we do as long as we don’t burn down the house.”
Shaking my head, I walk back to my bedroom and quickly get ready for the day. After shrugging on one of my favorite jackets, I grab my bag and head out of the house.
The moment I step onto the porch, the winter chill hits me, and I quickly wrap my arms around my middle.
Once I’m done with school I’m moving to a warmer place.
My thoughts turn to the nightmare I had, which was really unsettling after dreaming about the waterfall the past two weeks.
The disaster and danger felt so real.
I’ve only managed to walk to the stop sign when a familiar truck pulls up to the curb beside me.
“Morning. Need a ride?” Ryan asks, looking way too hot first thing in the morning.
Can’t say no to my friend, now can I?
“Sure.” Climbing into the truck, I smile at him. “Thanks.”
“I didn’t know you walked to school. I can pick you up and take you home after school.”
It doesn’t sound like he’s asking me. It sounds more like he’s already made up his mind.
“I usually ride with Molly, but I was late, so…yeah, you don’t need to go out of your way.”
As he starts to drive again, he says, “It’s not out of my way.”
I’ll get to spend more time with him.
“Okay. Sure. That would be great.”
A smile lifts the corner of his mouth, and he looks more than pleased that I agreed.
“Are you warm enough?” he asks.
“Yeah, thanks.”
During the drive to school, I remember the day before and how nice it was to hang out with him. Nothing weird happened, and I can actually see us becoming good friends.
Warmth trickles into my chest at the thought of having a friend, and a happy grin spreads over my face.