Dark Mind (The Dark Mind Trilogy Book 1) by Matthew Goldstein Read Free Book Online

another night of intense reading where he could be alone and not have to deal with people. He reluctantly put aside Poe in search of something else, hoping he would find another book as compelling, and secretly hoping to find something that would allow him to sleep that night. He decided to try a large book with a worn red hardcover whose title was mostly rubbed off. He curled up on the chair and began to read. It was an adventure book about an explorer searching the New World for treasures to bring back to his home country. Cole knew that he would have normally enjoyed it. It was well-written and had frequent exciting situations, but after Poe it seemed dull. He craved new Poe stories. There had to be more.
    He drifted off to sleep after a while and, when he awoke, it was long since dark. He dragged himself out of the chair and set his alarm so he wouldn’t have to hear Beth complain about his tardiness. A minute later he was fast asleep in a black world of shifting images.
     
    * * *
     
    Friday. Usually a day of relief but not this week, knowing he would have to spend the whole weekend with Beth. All morning he watched the doorway, hoping someone would show up to tell him that his mother was out of the hospital and he could go to his own home for the weekend. But no one showed up.
    As he took his usual seat at lunch, a new thought took hold of him. He looked down the table to see Amy, joking and laughing with her old group of friends. This was the reason he had tried to put her out of his head. Of course she didn’t come back. Did you really think she wanted to be your friend? I bet she’s joking about me with her friends right now. They just needed new material to laugh about. And why do I care? I don’t need anyone else. Remember that.
    He expected nothing else, yet he could not shake off the sadness and bitterness from the deception. Each bite out of his sandwich was slow, deliberate. I swear to God if you cry I will kick your ass later. He kept his eyes down, trying to forget what was going on down the table.
    “What’s the matter?”
    A chunk of sandwich lodged itself in Cole’s throat and he began to cough violently. He grabbed his milk and gulped it to stop his choking.
    “I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. Again. Are you okay?”
    Cole looked up to see Amy sitting across from him, watching him to make sure he could breathe. “Yeah, I’m fine,” he said, now more embarrassed than anything. “Just went down the wrong pipe.” He took another swig, still coughing gently.
    “I was just talking you up to the others , but it looks like they’re going to need another few days to lighten up,” Amy said.
    “Oh, thanks , but you really don’t have to bother.”
    “I’m not bothered. Don’t worry, they’ll come around. So, what’s up? Read any more Poe?”
    “No, I tried this other book, but it didn’t compare. You really gotta check it out sometime.” He was impressed at how well he was hiding his emotions about her coming back to talk to him. I guess I'm too pessimistic. Maybe good things really can happen.
    “…me,” Amy was saying.
    Dammit. Good job. Now I missed what she said and have to look like an idiot. “Sorry what was that?”
    Amy smiled. “Did you just drift off into outer space? I said I wanna check out that book. Maybe you could show me.”
    “Oh, uh, yeah, sure.”
    “How about after school? What are you doing later?”
    Cole’s brain froze; the question had caught him off guard. “Oh, um, um. Later might not be good.”
    “What’s the matter? Gotta get to your college classes? Gotta save the world from the forces of evil?” The little smirk was back.
    “What? No, no. I…it’s just, well, because my mom’s in the hospital, I’m staying with my aunt, and she’s not the easiest person to deal with.”
    “I’m sure your aunt won’t kill me. I have to be home for dinner with my parents – they're all weird like that – but I’ll tell my mom to drop me off later