Finding Eden by Camilla Beavers Read Free Book Online Page A

time comes for me to get out, I
don't want to. I stare at the clock in the bathroom for a long time
wishing I didn't have to go to school, but I do. I finally decide to
get out and get ready, quickly dressing and leaving the house before
I change my mind and stay home.
    The drive to school is
slow and lazy. I take the long route to school, hoping beyond hope
that I don't get to school with extra time to spare. If that happens
then I will just start thinking about Sahariel, and that just isn't
good. I get to school and pull into a parking spot. As luck would
have it, Evaughn is already there, standing at the doors like a
welcoming beacon of light.
    “ You look like
crap,” she says.
    “ Thanks,” I
say, “I feel like crap.”
    “ Are you doing
okay?”
    “ Not really,”
I shake my head, “I've been having bad dreams lately, and
they've been keeping me up.”
    “ Do you want to
talk about it?” She asks as we step through the doorway into
the hallway.
    “ Not really,”
I say.
    “ Alright.”
    We walk into class
together and sit in our seats, giving us time to talk before class
starts.
    “ You know what you
need?” Evaughn says after a few seconds of silence.
    “ Sleep?”
    “ No,” she
shakes her head.
    “ Then what?”
I ask.
    “ You need,”
she opens her bag and drags out a flier, “a trip to the
carnival!”
    She flips open the paper
and holds it in front of my face, sort of like a prize kill or a
trophy of sorts. I can tell that she's proud of herself for coming up
with the idea, especially since it hasn't been well advertised.
    “ Sounds great,
Evaughn.” I smile at her and she beams. Her excitement is
contagious and I can't help but look forward to it.
    “ So when are we
going?” I ask right before class starts.
    “ I was thinking
today after school,” she says, “since it is Friday and
all. Wouldn't have to worry about staying out too late or anything.”
    “ Alright,” I
say, “do you want to carpool or just drive separately?”
    “ How about we
carpool? I can pick you up after school after I change out of this
horrible uniform. I haven't been able to hang out with you in
forever”
    “ Alright,” I
say, “just give me enough time to change and everything should
be fine. Agreed?”
    “ Agreed.”
    The day goes by quickly,
the anticipation for the carnival building as the time goes by.
During lunch we all sit together. Brock is being his usual talkative
self. At least the conversation is interesting. Or at least keeps me
from feeling like it.
    “ Holy crap,”
Brock says mid-sentence.
    “ What is it?”
I ask and look around the room, not caring that I don't have my
sunglasses on and ignoring it when my eyes begin to water.
    “ Look,” Brock
points behind me, “Sahariel must not be sleeping well either.
He looks like crap.”
    I turn around quickly and
my eyes get assaulted with all the colors. He's standing in the
doorway by himself. His shoulders are hunched, as if he's caving in
on himself. His hair is limp and he has dark circles under his eyes.
He looks like he hasn't slept in weeks. He looks like crap. He looks
like me.
    As if he can feel my
gaze, Sahariel's eyes reach mine. He looks so tired. I give him a
small smile, but nothing more. He nods slightly, recognizing me, but
makes no move to come over to me. I frown as he turns in place and
leaves. What is he doing?
    “ Well, that was
weird,” Brock says.
    “ Yeah,” I say
and turn back toward the table.
    “ So, anyway,”
Brock breaks the awkward silence.
    “ Alright,”
Evaughn says, “school gets out at three, so I will pick you up
at around 3:30 and then we can meet up with Brock at 4?”
    “ Sure,” I say
and smile, trying really hard to be upbeat. I want to be happy.
    “ Sounds good to
me,” Brock says as the bell rings.
    “ Alright, see you
guys then,” I say and gather my things and head to class.
    During art class I'm
feeling lonely. I sit in my usual spot, but I don't paint. I don't
even look at my