Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore Read Free Book Online

and you’ll have a blood flood.”
    Gunther strides over to where the wulf kids are sitting. His guys follow.
    The wulves stand up. Deadlock.
    Gunther is a full head taller than Charlie Hogan, but Hogan is built like a fire hydrant.
    â€œWe stick to refined sports,” Gunther says. “All you moon-dogs know how to do is smash and bash. Limited animal brains, lower form of life.”
    Hogan’s nostrils flare and he balls his hands into fists.
    Mr. Wentworth gets up again and moves toward them.
    â€œDo it, troglodyte,” Gunther says.
    But Hogan doesn’t hit him. He grabs Gunther by the front of his shirt and shoves him hard. Gunther goes into the pool, hitting the water with a big splash.
    The crowd roars.
    Gunther heaves himself out of the water. His expensive clothes drip heavily. Two teachers have come to walk Charlie Hogan out. He’s laughing.
    â€œThis is a Rolex, face-case!” Gunther screams at Hogan. “If it’s ruined, you’re paying for it.”
    â€œSue me,” Hogan calls over his shoulder.
    â€œYou couldn’t afford it. I could buy and sell your whole family.”
    Mr. Wentworth and two custodians escort Charlie Hogan to the doors of the pool house. The vamp kids cheer, while Gunther looks up into the bleachers and clasps his hands over his head in a champion gesture. Then he tosses his blond hair, sending a spray of water onto some vamp girls, who squeal with delight.
    The rest of the meet can’t match the excitement of the floor show. Carpathia wins, mainly due to Alana Gibson.
    â€œWell, that turned out to be a decent meet after all,” Claire says to me as we climb down the bleachers.
    â€œThat was an outstanding meet,” I say while pulling on my leather jacket. “Did you hear Gunther scream about his stupid watch?”
    We shuffle along with the crowd toward the exit. I lean into Claire. “Oh. I came up with a really good solution to our problem.”
    â€œWhat problem is that?”
    â€œAbout how to tell if Juliet Walker likes me or not.”
    â€œRight, see, that’s not our problem, that’s your problem,” Claire says, staring hard at the back of Tiffany Welsh’s head, impatient because Tiffany is yakking instead of trying to move forward.
    â€œWhatever. Anyway, I figure the simplest way to do this is for you to come tomorrow night so you can watch and give me your opinion.”
    â€œGee, really? I can? What an honor!” She sneers at the back of Tiffany’s head and mimes punching it. “Thanks, but I’ll pass.”
    â€œI’ll be forever in your debt.”
    â€œYou’re already forever in my debt. And anyway, it’s a stupid idea. You’re trying to figure out if she likes you so you show up with another girl?”
    â€œYou’re not another girl.”
    She jams the point of her elbow into my solar plexus, half knocking the wind out of me. I should have seen it coming.
    â€œGood luck getting me to help you with any thing after that,” she says.
    â€œYou know what I meant. I’m saying, you’re not a girl friend . We couldn’t pretend to be together even if we wanted to. Just come. I know you don’t have any plans.”
    â€œHow do you know?”
    â€œBecause it’s Saturday night. What plans would you have besides hanging out with me?”
    She rolls her eyes. “Fine. It’ll be fun watching you try to flirt.” She stands on her toes, trying to see what’s holding things up. “Would you guys move?” she shouts.
    We finally get outside, and the crowd spreads out. Claire’s dad is supposed to pick us up. “He said to wait for him there,” Claire says, pointing to a far corner.
    Just as we head in that direction, we hear the voice of our school’s golden boy. “Nope, not this weekend,” Gunther says. “I’m going hunting with my father.”
    â€œYeah? For deer, or