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

from her and took a deep swallow. “Keep it in my locker for emergencies.” He handed it back to her, and she took another gulp. “Well, start talking.”
    “I’ve had a rough day. Weird stuff all night, so no sleep. Birds still around this morning, then I was late, then when I came in I went straight to the counselor. My life sucks.” She took another swig of vodka. She didn’t drink often, so it hit her hard. Her fingers were already nice and tingly. “And then I have to watch her and Rylan, and it pisses me off so much, and I hate myself for it.”
    Tink extracted the bottle from her hands. “Pace yourself. We’ve got all day.” He took a small sip then set it down between them. “There are two reasons it pisses you off to see them together. First off, miss nasty is a raging, fake, you-know-what. Second, and more important, you like Rylan. Really, really like him. Maybe you don’t want to, but you do.”
    “Crap.” She tapped the back of her head against the post. “It’s pathetic. Am I that obvious?”
    He patted her knee. “It’s written all over your little face.”
    “Great.”
    “Just give me the word and I’ll shank that girl right in her muffin top. You know I will.”
    They dissolved into laughter. “You are so wrong, yet so right.” She laughed so hard she snorted. “She doesn’t have a proper muffin top for you to shank.”
    “That’s because she doesn’t eat.” He scooted next to her and put his arm around her. “What’s really going on here?”
    “Whaddya mean?” She rested her head against his bony shoulder.
    “There are some weird things happening. They center around you. I’m not stupid.”
    She sat up so she could look at his face. It was full of concern. In this moment, hidden underneath the bleachers and warm with vodka, she felt safe.
    Very quietly, she said, “It started with nightmares.”
    She told him everything: the birds, the nightmares, Rylan, the shrink, the shadows. Everything. He was silent while she spoke, occasionally squeezing her shoulder if her voice got shaky.
    When she finished, he was quiet.
    “So, do you think I’m crazy?”
    He smiled. “Nope. The birds – that’s proof right there something is happening to you.”
    She smiled. “Really? You don’t think I’m nuts?”
    “Hell to the no. I’m totally freaked, but I know it’s not in your head. Something weird is going on around here.”
    “Well, what do you think?”
    He stood and paced back and forth in the small space. “Let’s be logical, if we can. Based on what Rylan said, and the shrink, and how this is ramping up…”
    “What?” she said.
    “I mean, isn’t it obvious? Something is going to happen on your birthday.”
    It was obvious. Why hadn’t she seen it before? “Of course, you’re right, but what?”
    “I don’t know, but it doesn’t sound like it’s going to be good, right?”
    “No.”
    “What’s today?” he asked.
    “Friday.”
    “When’s your birthday?” he asked.
    “Tomorrow, May 1.”
    “What? Then we don’t have much time.” He offered his hand.
    “Where are we going?”
    “We need to eat; cover up the alcohol on our breath. Then we need to find Rylan. He knows something,” he said. “Do you know anything about your biological parents?”
    “Nope.”
    “Time to do some research.”
    By the time they emerged from their safe cocoon, school had long been let out. They made a pit stop at a fast-food joint.
    “Where to?” he asked as they idled in the parking lot.
    “My place. My parents’ date night is tonight, so they won’t be home.”
    “Ew.” He drove to her parents’ house, parking on the street. “Let’s do this.”
    She led him inside, turning on all the lights in the house.
    “Okay, how much time do we have?” He checked his watch. “It’s 5:30 right now.”
    “Probably till about seven or so, more if they see a movie.”
    “Okay, let’s call it seven. Where do they keep their, um, grown-up document stuff?” he