Indelible by Lani Woodland Read Free Book Online

special relationship with chocolate. When I need it, I need it.”
    Brent pulled me in closer and squeezed my shoulders. “Personally, I’m all about the five hours of off-campus time we get on Saturdays.”
    Steve crinkled his empty burrito wrapper and tossed it on our tray. “I’m looking forward to the senior prank. I want to leave our mark on the school.”
    “I’m game, as long as whatever you’re planning doesn’t get the whole senior class in trouble. You know Audrey would never forgive you if the administration killed all of our other senior events as punishment,” I said. Audrey was in the running for valedictorian, but had already nabbed the title of Most Involved. She was in practically every school club and organization, and had a hand in planning almost every event.
    “A little faith, please,” Steve said. “Besides, the only time the seniors got in trouble was when the pranks went wrong. Like the year the statue of Christopher Pendrell broke when they tried to move it.”
    “Or the year they brought goats into the administration building and they caused all that damage,” Brent said.
    “Don’t forget when they added mustaches to all the portraits of the Pendrell presidents and no one could get them off,” Cherie added. “Or—”
    Steve reached over and covered her mouth with his hand. “Okay. I see your point. So a few times people couldn’t pull off the prank and the whole student body suffered. But my plan will be brilliant.”
    “I know it will, ‘cause I’m going to help,” Cherie managed to say around his hand. Steve grinned and moved his hand away to swoop in for a kiss.
    I changed the topic to one I’d been dreading. “Hey Brent, remember how I have that family dinner tomorrow night?”
    “Yeah,” Brent said. “Steve and I have a video game night planned.”
    Steve leaned across the table to fist-bump Brent and they started talking about the first person shooter game they were going to play.
    I cut into their conversation. “Um, yeah. About that . . . they want you to come, too.”
    “To dinner? Like, with your parents?” Brent asked, his voice filled with dread.
    “Yes. My dad’s especially looking forward to it.”
    At the look on Brent’s face Cherie belted out a laugh, spewing soda across the table. “You’re going to love her dad,” she managed between coughs. She laughed harder and I knew she was thinking of what my dad did to the boys I brought home.
    “Your dad?” Brent rubbed the back of his neck and swallowed hard. “Any chance I can talk you into a movie instead?” He smiled at me with the grin that made my insides melt like ice cream on the fourth of July.
    “Unfortunately, this is one dinner we can’t put off. I’m sorry Brent, they were adamant.” I patted him on the back and gave him puppy dog eyes and a small pout. “You’ll come won’t you?”
    He sighed. “Yeah, I’ll come.”
    v
    The sun still shone brightly as I backed out of my newly-assigned parking space in the student lot. Brent had come with me to pick up my parking sticker and he fidgeted in the seat beside me, still nervous about dinner at my parents’ house. I enjoyed the new experience, this sense of freedom from getting to drive my car. If my bruised wrist hadn’t started tingling as I turned onto the only road that led off campus, I probably would have been able to pretend that I hadn’t been attacked by a ghost the night before.
    When my dad was transferred to Brazil last year, he had known it would be temporary and that there was even a chance of coming back early, so rather than sell their house, they had kept it. Now that my dad’s company had sent him back to the States for the year, I was happy I could visit my parents at home and not in some random apartment. After yesterday’s attack, I needed the familiarity and comfort of my own space. Cherie had wanted to come but her parents had volunteered her for something that would look good on her college