Havoc by Jeff Sampson Read Free Book Online

boards all afternoon, at least for me. Maybe that’s a good time for you, I don’t know.”
    Grinning, I pulled the afghan tighter around me. “Yeah, no, I’m good on avoiding rants. Oh, wait, okay, I think someone is about to die.”
    We went back to the movie then. Megan was mid-riff on the dubious talent of Tara Reid when my phone buzzed against the side of my face. Startled, I let the phone fall to my lap—where I saw a text on the screen, from Spencer.
    4:32 PM PST: yo Em. Dalton is on his way home, u ready
    My pulse pumped with excitement—this was it, finally we could talk to Dalton in private—and immediately guilt rushed over me. Megan and I were actually talking normally for the first time in a week. Actually having fun, like we used to. And now I was going to have to ruin it.
    I put the phone to my ear. Megan was giggling to herself about whatever joke I’d just missed. I swallowed, opened my mouth to speak, then couldn’t say anything. After another moment of quiet, I closed my eyes and decided to just rip off the Band-Aid.
    â€œHey, Megan? Um, I really hate to do this, but I have to go.”
    Again I was met with silence. All I could hear were the echoing dialogue and sound effects from our TVs.
    â€œWhat’s up?” she finally asked.
    I swallowed again. “I have an important project that I’m supposed to do. Uh, with Spencer. I thought I’d have time to watch the whole movie. I’m really—”
    â€œFine.”
    â€œMegan, I’m really, really sorry,” I said. “I wouldn’t ditch you if this wasn’t important.”
    A sigh on the other end. “I said it’s fine, Emily. This movie isn’t that much fun, anyway.”
    â€œWe can find another one,” I said. “Only in person next time, okay?”
    â€œYeah. But don’t let me keep you. Go do your project. I’ve got plenty of butthurt people on the internet to read about.”
    Before I could respond, the phone clicked dead. I stared at it for a moment. I’d screwed up. Again.
    Closing my eyes, I shook my head. I couldn’t worry about it now. Megan and I would talk tomorrow. I hoped. With her no longer on the phone, the TV just felt like meaningless noise and color. I flicked off the TV, and those same worries that I’d momentarily shoved away started to come back. The house suddenly felt even more cavernous and empty.
    My fingers darted over the number keys of my cell as I finally texted Spencer back.
    4:37 PM PST: For the love of all things good in the world come save me.
    4:37 PM PST: lol? u ok?
    I grinned at the phone. Apparently faux histrionics don’t translate well via text.
    4:39 PM PST: I’m fine, just lonely and getting all hyperbolic. I’ll meet you outside.

5
    YEAH, HE’S SUPER FRIENDLY
    Spencer and I pulled up in front of Dalton’s house at five on the dot. Dalton lived on the richer side of town, and predictably his house was of the lavish multistory type that seemed straight out of one of those Real Housewives shows. They had a broad, beautifully tended yard and garden. Even though it was beginning to rain, an older, tanned man who clearly wasn’t Dalton’s father was mowing the lawn as Spencer pulled the minivan to park behind Dalton’s parents’ Lexus. Or one of their Lexuses, anyway. Lexii?
    â€œI guess BioZenith pays its employees pretty well,” I said as I climbed out of the car, grabbing my backpack full of shadowmen-related books as I did.
    â€œIt probably takes a particular skill set to genetically engineer people,” Spencer shouted over the din of the lawn mower as he rounded the car and came to my side.
    â€œGuess so.”
    We nodded politely to the old gardener, then stood on Dalton’s porch and rang the doorbell. There was a wicker-and-faux-fall-leaf wreath on the door and stacks of browning gourds at our feet. Très Martha Stewart.
    A minute