Sidekicks by Linda Palmer Read Free Book Online

destroy her once she realizes it's not true."
    Yikes. I tried to ignore her peacock blue eye shadow and chose my words carefully. "I told her nothing but the truth, based on what her sister told me."
    "Her sister is dead."
    "Yeah, well, I'm a medium, so--"
    Miss Shock's gasp cut me off. She placed fingers with fuchsia nails on the floppy bow of her dated turquoise blouse. "You must resist this. It's evil, and the church clearly states..."
    Her words faded until they were nothing but background noise I could barely make out. The reason? A male presence with a boutonniere had begun to hover. Yeah, the one from the Halloween dance. Had this teacher been his date at a dance long ago? I suddenly knew she had. I also knew something really bad had happened the night he wore that tux.
    "Miss Shock, did you go to prom with a guy named Richard Carter? I mean Clark? Richard Clark."
    The color drained from her face. Her gaze narrowed. "How could you possibly know that?"
    "And were the two of you in a wreck on the way home?" The spirit, now very clear to me, shook his head. "No wait. You were going to the lake."
    She gasped and stepped back from me. From the corner of my eye, I saw that someone had come into the room. I flicked a glance in that direction. Cooper. Why was he there?
    "Richard--oh, you called him Ricky Joe--wants you to know that the accident wasn't your fault even though you were the one that suggested parking at the lake. The tire would've blown out no matter where you two went. It was his time to go."
    Miss Shock didn't answer. I could see her whole body trembling, which scared me a little. I didn't want her to have a heart attack. Though I thought about ending my improvised session, I knew I had to finish it.
    "He wants you to know that he still loves you. He also says it's time to move on. You should definitely go out with...Ted." Was that Theodore McDaniel, school librarian and bowtie aficionado? If so, he and Miss Shock were a perfect match.
    For several seconds, she just looked at me. I saw her lips move, but no words came out. Was she happy? Sad? Totally pissed?
    Would I end up in D-hall?
    Before I could figure it out, Miss Shock turned on her heel and left me, her hips swaying beneath her black straight skirt. I heard a couple of female students outside the door asking questions, no doubt in response to her obvious daze. Are you okay? Do we need to get Mr. Marsh? Should we call the nurse?
    "What are you doing?" I asked Cooper, who now walked up to me.
    "I saw Miss Shock drag you in here. Naturally I wondered why."
    "And now you know."
    "Yeah. Um...do you want to eat lunch together?"
    I looked him in the eye. "Sure you want to be seen with me?"
    "Don't do that, Mia. I'm in a tough spot. If it was just me, I'd be like you. But my situation is way different, and you know it."
    I did, indeed. With a nod and just a little remorse, I gave in and walked with him to the cafeteria.
----

Chapter Five
    We headed in opposite directions. Me, to the salad bar; Cooper, to the hot food line. One thing positive I could say about Martinsburg High was that they had good food. I hadn't packed a lunch since I started there, which was going some. I had to be the pickiest eater on the planet in spite of my restaurant upbringing or maybe because of it.
    With my tray in hand, I went straight to the table where Brynn, Tyler, and I always sat. He wasn't there yet. I set down my food and leaned across the table, keeping my voice low. "Do you love Tyler? Tell me quick and nothing but the truth."
    She tensed. "Why? What'd he say?"
    "Answer my question, Brynn. How do you really feel about him?"
    "Today? He's bearable. Tomorrow, who knows?"
    "Then it's probably not love." Whew.
    "Probably not, though he can be a doll."
    "Which isn't enough to base a romance on, right?"
    "Right. Now what did he say?"
    How could it be so easy to deliver messages from the dead, yet so heard to share ones from the living? "He thought you fussed too much when he fell