Giving Up the Ghost by Phoebe Rivers Read Free Book Online Page B

vanished as I observed the greasy orange sauce pooling around the taco, and realized it was not even remotely warm. I shoved my tray away a few inches, then opened my milk carton and took a long gulp. The light, normal feeling I’d woken up with was long gone.
    â€œSo I guess the Sunday thing didn’t work out so well,” said Lily, turning to me suddenly. “You know. For your birthday. Are you okay with it?”
    â€œMe? Sure. I mean, whatever,” I mumbled.
    â€œI guess it’s just a busy weekend,” said Lily apologetically. But something in her voice was off. Like she wasn’t really all that sorry.
    I was aware that the others at the table had turned toward us to listen. I suddenly felt bold. Maybe Lily wouldn’t be able to hang out tomorrow, but possibly someone else would.
    â€œWell, hey, how about tomorrow?” I asked. “Anyone feel like hanging out, maybe going to Scoops or whatever?”
    I saw Miranda and Lily exchange a quick look. Marlee suddenly looked very interested in reading the ingredients on her granola bar wrapper. Tamara shoved a heaping forkful of taco into her mouth. Avery coughed.
    I started to hear a chorus of their thoughts inside my head, but I forced myself to block them. I didn’t want to know.
    After an awkward silence, Lily finally spoke. “Sar, I’m so sorry, but we have dinner plans with Aunt Angela and her family tomorrow, and we have to leave early.”
    Lily was lying. I knew it without having to read her thoughts.
    â€œOkay,” I said. I felt my lower lip quivering, but I made it stop. “So I guess you’re going to your aunt’s after you practice for your dance recital, then?”
    The stunned look on Lily’s face told me I’d gone too far. She looked hurt. Then surprised. And then completely baffled.
    With a pang, I realized my mistake. She’d never said out loud that she had to practice for her recital. She’d only thought it. And I just let her know that I’d heard her thinking it this morning.
    Luckily, Tamara changed the subject. “I dropped my Spanish workbook in a puddle this morning,” she said. “Anyone have one I can borrow for Spanish class next period?”
    I was relieved that the focus had shifted away from my conversation with Lily. I felt completely awful.
    My gaze was distracted by a movement across the crowded cafeteria.
    It was the spirit of the gym teacher. The one who always seemed to show up at the times I least felt like dealing with him.
    â€œCollins!” he boomed.
    Of course, I was the only one who could hear him.
    â€œNeed you to do me a favor, Collins! Now, don’t you go rushing out on me again! I know your tricks! Hey! Collins!”
    â€œGotta run,” I said to my friends, already standing and turning to hustle out of the cafeteria. “See you, guys.”
    And I ducked out before the spirit could make his way toward me. Well, at least I’d managed to do something right. I’d managed to avoid the spirit for one more day.
    I was good at avoiding things.

Chapter 8
    By the time school was out on Thursday afternoon, the gloomy skies had cleared a little. The sun actually looked as though it was trying to peer out from the light-gray clouds. Puddles were everywhere, though, and I got soaked twice by cars fanning water on me as they whooshed through waterlogged streets.
    When I got home, Lady Azura was waiting for me. I peeled off my wet jacket and hung it on a hanger on the inside of the closet door, where it could drip dry without soaking everything around it.
    â€œI’ve made some tea,” she said by way of hello. “Run up and change into dry clothes and I’ll pour you a cup.”
    A few minutes later, I was sitting at the cozy kitchen table, my hair still damp and stringy, but warm again in my comfiest sweats, sipping sweet tea and nibbling on the cookies Lady Azura had put out on a little plate for me. I