Rose Blossom by Renee Travis Read Free Book Online Page B

good."
                  "I'm worried about you. I had heard you were at the dance with Julian but thought it was too weird to even really consider."  Athol took a breath, "he's strange Rho; you shouldn't be with him."
                  "What?" I asked, eye widening at Athol's craziness, "I really like him Athol and he likes me, it's not odd and there is nothing to be worried about."
                  "He's not normal Rho, please believe me, something about him just feels off," Athol leaned in and took my hands in his.
                  I felt my heart sputter; he couldn't really know Julian was different, could he? Athol just had to be acting twice as crazy as normal, right?
                  "I mean if it's a matter of your parents finally letting you date then date me! I'll talk to them and everything, I've always thought you were a cutie, wanted to ask you out a hundred times!" Athol rambled; I pulled my hands out of his and stood up, turning to face him, embarrassed.
                  Athol was my friend and I didn't quite know what to say, "Ummmm Athol, that's awful nice of you but I really do like Julian, I want to be with Julian, so I'm sorry but no thanks." My words didn't seem to make things better. Athol stood and, his face stormy and his eyes angry.
                  "Fine then Rho, but don't say I didn't warn you," Athol turned around and stomped off. I just stood there for a few seconds before heading into class.
                  I spent the whole time we were supposed to be taking notes for the next day's cooking activity thinking about Athol and his strange behavior. By the time the bell rang for lunch I had almost convinced myself he'd just forgotten whatever meds he must be taking to keep the craziness locked inside.
                  I walked outside my class and down the hallway until I reached a small grassy area with picnic tables, I sat at the one Mel, Killian and I always sat at and waited.
                  Mel and Killian showed up a few seconds later, but lunch wasn't about eating, for them it was more time for lip lock fest 2010.
                  After several minutes I noticed Julian was sitting next to me; I jumped, startled, and by the look on his face he wasn't happy to see me.  I began to scoot away, sadness and hurt leaking from my pores when suddenly he grabbed me around the waist and squeezed me to him. His eyes almost desperate, haunted.
                  "I can smell Athol on you," his voice was low, musky floral pouring from his mouth onto every inch of my face. "What happened?"
                  "He just stopped me before class to talk," I shrugged, not wanting to make a big deal out of it.
                  "I don’t want you to talk to him anymore Rhodanthe, there is something that bothers me about him and I don’t quite know what it is," Julian told me.
                  Funny that's what he said about you, I thought, "like what?" I said out loud.
                  "His thoughts are...fuzzy," Julian shrugged, "for lack of a better word, I can usually read most people’s thoughts if I try, but not his."
                  "You can read people thoughts!" I whispered, eyes wide, my chest ached as I thought of all the mushy private things I had thought about with and around Julian. I didn't want him in my deepest most secret fantasies, not now and maybe not ever!
                  "Breathe Rose blossom, your thoughts are also...fuzzy, I cannot read them in detail, mainly just bits and pieces when you are practically screaming them," Julian wrapped his arms around me and brought me to rest against his chest in a light embrace. How does a human being learn to read people's thoughts?  I wondered. I knew I should feel way more freaked out, but I didn't.
                  I was however completely