Collide by Alyson Kent Read Free Book Online Page A

good references as far
as background is concerned.”
    I couldn’t really argue with his logic, it
did make sense to go ahead and get some more books in, and since I
was in a good position to do so, I nodded in agreement just as the
final bell rang. He stuck his hand out at me, and I stared rather
stupidly at it before I glanced back to his eyes.
    “Isn’t it customary in America to shake hands
over a deal or agreement of some sort?” he asked as that strange
glint appeared in his eyes again.
    My own eyes narrowed as I reached out and
tentatively grasped his hand. My palm felt overly warm as icy hot
chills chased their way up my arm as his long fingers closed over
mine in a firm, yet at the same time gentle, grip. He shook my hand
twice, but instead of letting go he peered at me. It almost seemed
like he was searching for something in my own gaze. Nonplussed, I
suddenly clenched my fingers and ground his knuckles together. He
quickly released me and rubbed his abused hand lightly. I wasn’t
the designated pickle jar opener in my family for nothing, and my
lips stretched into a smile that most likely wasn’t on the friendly
side.
    “Oh yes,” he said, his lips quirked in a
maddening smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “This is
certainly going to be enlightening.”
    I shook my head as I turned and walked out of
the classroom, so incredibly thankful the day was over that it was
all I could do to keep from running down the hallway towards the
front doors as I screamed “FREEDOM” at the top of my lungs in my
best Braveheart imitation. I really looked forward to getting to
Baker’s; the bookstore might have been small, but it was welcoming
and comfortable and carried a wide range of books and unique
knick-knacks that made it a popular stop for tourists during the
Fall because of the beautiful pallet of colors the leaves outside
the front door displayed. I loved the Blue Ridge Mountains during
all seasons, but in the Fall they just came alive with all sorts of
colors, from deep, russet red to brilliant gold and many various
shades in between. The Blue Ridge Parkway was a favorite tourist
destination for people who liked to be inspired by the colors and
sights of the mountains, and it was also when we did the most
business.
    I was so deep in my thoughts that I hadn’t
realized that there was a person standing by my car until I almost
ran her over. I pulled myself back to the present and blinked at
Maria, completely taken aback by her appereance. I had completely
forgotten about my resolve to talk to her about, well, everything,
and the farting butterflies were not only back with a vengeance,
but the little bastards had gotten involved in an orgy and
multiplied exponentially as I met her angry eyes.
    “What?” I asked defensively, and scowled when
I realized I had no reason to be defensive at all.
    “What?” she mimicked and her lips pulled back
a little to bare her teeth at me. This was so far removed from the
warm and caring person I had grown up with that I snapped from
defensive to very, very angry. I had had enough of this person who
looked like, sounded like, and mostly dressed like my friend, but
who had obviously been taken over by some new species of pod
people.
    “What the hell is your problem?” I snarled
and stepped forward until I was almost level with her. “What the
hell is up with the sudden bitch queen routine? Ever since you came
back it’s been like you have two people living inside of you, one
is my best friend that I’ve known all my life, that snuck me ice
cream when Mom grounded me over a missed curfew, that loves the
Earth and everything in it so much that she’s obsessed with finding
a way to recycle Q-tips and wouldn’t hurt anyone else, ever, even
if it meant that she kept her own feelings bottled up inside until
she could find me and we could go somewhere secluded so she could
scream and no one would hear her, and the other is this angry,
bitchy person that I’ve never met