Cape High Christmas: A Side Story (Cape High Series) by R.J. Ross Read Free Book Online Page B

for bed, intent on getting some sleep.
    The next day is bright and clear--or at least she wishes it was, Aubrey thinks as she heads outside. Instead it’s cloudy and threatening to rain. She looks up, frowning at the sky as if she could fix it that way. Maybe Liz could, she thinks as her foster mom comes down, but she seems HAPPIER when she looks up. “Oh, nice day!” Liz announces happily. Why yes, she HAD slept in. They all had.
    The sight of a gleaming bus with a digital sign on the side makes them both stop. At the moment the sign says, “AUBREY’S DAY,” and flashes the Cape High logo right afterwards. “Not exactly discreet, is it?” Aubrey says as Nico pulls the bus to a stop in front of the school and gets out.
    “Don’t worry,” he says as he sees her look, “this entire thing can be changed.” The bus shimmers and suddenly it looks exactly like a typical orange school bus. He snaps his fingers and it goes back to the "Aubrey Day" bus.  “I did have to pull a few strings to get it licensed, which means YOU owe me more, little sister,” he adds with an evil grin for Liz.
    “I know, I know--I’ll help you with the Christmas presents,” she says.
    “Thank you, my most loving sister--”
    “Skye probably loves you more at the moment,” Liz says.
    “Sure she does, but keeping her focused long enough is pretty much impossible,” Nico says far too honestly. Liz starts laughing. “Okay, guys, you’re clear to leave,” Nico says to the canyon. One by one the students of Cape High come out, apparently appearing out of nothing. Behind Aubrey, the apartment kids, Max, and Adanna show up in their various modes of transportation. The bus is loaded in a blink of an eye.
    “This thing is awesome,” Max says, looking around the extremely plush bus with a grin. “Bucket seats, cup holders--are those tablets built into the back of the seats?” he asks, leaning over and tapping one.
    “Of course,” Nico says. “What bus is complete without the basics?”
    “Ahem,” Aubrey says, as everyone sits down. “Today is my day--and this might shock you, but Nico’s not my helper,” she announces. “My foster mom, Liz, AKA Firefly, will be helping us today. Everyone make sure you thank her for taking the day off of work for this.”
    “You’re welcome, you’re welcome,” Liz says, bowing grandly while grinning like an idiot.
    “And today we’ll be going to a clothing store,” Aubrey says, getting a rather lack-luster reaction. Considering that their clothing is mostly made tailored for them, it’s not that big of a surprise. “But we won’t be buying for ourselves. This is another one of those do-something-for-someone-else days. We’ll be picking out a coat, each, and then donating them to their donation program. Don’t worry, Liz and I will pay for them. But I want you to think long and hard about who you think would need that coat. Is it a child? A teenager? An adult? What color would they want? And most importantly, what sort of situation would cause them to need a coat and not be able to get one for themselves?"
    The group goes silent, looking down or around, anywhere other than at her, and she realizes that question might be a bit too heavy. "Well, um, anyway, let's get going," she says. "Ace, I hate to ask this of you--"
    "I'll make sure metal head doesn't stick out," Ace says. "IF you make him pay for the coat he picks out," he adds a bit evilly.
    "Sure, I get paid surprisingly well for someone making money under the table," Jack says. Aubrey smiles at him, sitting down in her spot next to Liz as the bus takes off. Before long, they're all heading into the large coat store, spreading out like a wave. Aubrey looks around for a moment before heading to the kids' section. Not surprisingly, more than half of the group is there, already.
    She looks at them for a moment before heading for the women's section, where, to her surprise, Jack and Ace are looking at coats blankly. "Think this would be