Rua (Rua, book 1) by Miranda Kavi Read Free Book Online Page A

her nerves.
    Pull it together. You’re in public. You’re fine. You can handle this. You can handle anything.
    She toweled off her face, let her hair back down, then walked to the school office.
    The woman at the front was heavyset with short grandma-style hair. “Yes?” she said sternly to Celeste when she walked in.
    “Um, yes. I ran late with the counselor, so can I get a note to get into my next class? Please?”
    Her grimace melted into a sympathetic smile. “Of course, dear. I’ll write that out for you.” She pulled out a small notepad.
    “So, um, Dr. Ramone is really great. How long has she worked at the school?” Celeste asked.
    “Well, dear. She doesn’t work here. Our regular counselor is out on maternity leave, so we bring people in here under contract to fill in as needed. Dr. Ramone just happened to check in with us this week to see if we had any patients.”
    “Oh, what a nice coincidence,” she managed to say, even though it felt like her mouth had just filled up with sand.
    The woman held up the note. “Here you go.” She looked up at Celeste. “Are you okay, dear? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”
    “I’m fine.” She took the note and walked to her next class. All the other kids had just eaten lunch, so they still buzzed in their chairs with energy.
    The teacher paused mid-lecture when she came in. Eighteen pairs of eyes came to rest on her. She ignored them and handed her note to the teacher.
    He skimmed it before folding it and putting it in his pocket. “Have a seat.”
    She took her habitual spot in front of Tink.
    “Where have you been all day?” He scooted his desk closer. “Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine.”
    “You look weird. What’s going on?” he said.
    “I’ll explain later.”
    “Yes, you will.”
    She rolled her eyes, then pulled out a notebook and prepared to listen to the lecture. Instead, she filled her page with doodles of birds, eyes, and shadows.
    “Hey.” Tink poked her back with his pencil.
    “What?” she asked under her breath.
    “Why is Rylan staring at you creepy-style?”
    She glanced to her right. He was seated on the far edge of the classroom, up against the wall, next to Jennifer. He sat sideways in his forward-facing desk, back against the wall, staring at her. When their eyes met, her heart tumbled into her stomach.
    “Whatever,” she mumbled to Tink.
    When the bell rang, she followed Tink out into the hallway. Jennifer and Rylan walked in front of her. As she watched, Jennifer leaned her back against the locker, and Rylan put one hand behind her head and leaned against her.
    Some glue inside her snapped, because before she knew it, her eyes were swelling with tears. She swiveled on her heel and walked in the other direction.
    “That’s it.” Tink grabbed her hand and led her out the side door.
    “Where are we going?” she asked him.
    “We’re ditching,” he said. “But you need to run now so we don’t get caught.”
    She did, following him across the grassy field, squeezing between poorly locked chain-link gates, and finally crawling under the partially folded bleachers lining the football field. It was a little dark and musty, but they were completely hidden from view.
    She leaned against a support post, face still streaked with tears. “Thanks.”
    “What’s happening to you?” he asked. “I’m seriously concerned. If I ever have to eat lunch with fat Edith again, I’m going to die.”
    “I can’t talk about it. You’re gonna think I’m wacko.”
    “No, I won’t. But I do have something that will make you feel better.” He reached into his backpack and pulled out a water bottle.
    “Oh, no thanks. I’m not thirsty.”
    “It’s not a matter of thirst, my dear.” He unscrewed the cap and handed the bottle to her. She took a sip and let the liquid fill her mouth. It burned a fire to her stomach, mixing in with her lunch in a not-so-pleasant way.
    “Yuck. Vodka?”
    “Yep.” He retrieved the bottle