Silent Song (Ghostly Rhapsody) by Ron C. Nieto Read Free Book Online Page A

call it voyeuristic, but it’s not like I’m having sex. Though that might be what you think about. Is it?”
    I slapped him. I wasn’t even conscious of me crossing over to him, but then my hand stung and his head stayed turned to the side, his cheek reddening by the second.
    If I had hoped to deny it, my reaction had just sold me.
    My lips tried to form words, lies, to say it hadn’t been like that, to ask how he knew. Again, his gaze traveled lazily to my feet… He wasn’t appraising me, I realized with a sickening feeling. He was pointing out my favorite shoes.
    “The yard might not be as well cared for as your own, but it still shows when you kill the flower beds with stilettos.”
    “There are plenty of people who wear stilettos.”
    “Not plenty of people who wear them muddy the next day to school.”
    Damn, damn, damn it and damn him and…
    He knows .
    “How long have you known?” My mouth was dry.
    “Long enough, Princess. You know, you could have come in to listen without the damp and the cold…”
    He pushed off the table and sidestepped me, and suddenly he sounded tired and…hurt? He hauled his guitar case up and walked to the door.
    “But that would have been too much like the old times, right?”
    And he left. And I realized a stupid, fat tear had escaped the corner of my eye and was intent on ruining my mascara.
    The secret was out. What would that mean now?

     

CHAPTER 7
    When I collected myself and left the auditorium, I went straight for the school exit. The rest of the group was lounging in the corridors, waiting and looking smug and amused.
    Had they thrown some extra jives Keith’s way when he left?
    I didn’t really want to know. I could do something extremely stupid if the answer was yes. I didn’t want to see their high-and-mighty faces either, so I didn’t stop when I passed them by. But I did throw my best icy, Bitch Princess look to Lena, right over my shoulder.
    Hah! Take my royal power .
    When I was by the curve of the parking lot, hurried footsteps caught up with me.
    “Alice!” Anna shouted, out of breath. “Wait up! What’s gotten into you?”
    I whirled on her. “How would you like it if Lena had broken, I don’t know, the windshield of your car instead?”
    She gave me a look that said she didn’t understand. Then she snorted a short, incredulous laugh. “I can’t believe it. This is really about that?”
    “Yes, it’s about that. And I can’t believe you’re so cool with it.”
    “You’re taking his side, even though he hit my head? Hello! I’m here, and we’re supposed to be friends!”
    “You said you were okay, and it happened almost a month ago!”
    “So what? It’s still my head, my clothing, and my stuff.”
    “Nothing got damaged, Anna. Nothing at all. Which, coincidentally, wasn’t the case today.”
    “I could have been hurt!”
    “Then, take it up with your beloved Ray because he flung you into Keith!”
    I breathed hard because of the discussion. Of both discussions. This was starting to be too much, too fast. What I needed was some quiet time to regroup, think straight and come up with something that said that no, my life was not in shambles. I didn’t need to be fighting with my best friend in plain view of the school, defending the resident freak.
    But the words were out and I could not call them back. Anna’s eyes narrowed.
    “Is that it? You’re jealous because I have Ray?”
    “Don’t be ridiculous. I can barely stand him.”
    “You don’t seem to complain when we go partying and he gives you a ride home.”
    “He did it once, Anna, because you told him to. And surprise, I don’t mind because he’s my best friend’s boyfriend!”
    “It takes guts to call yourself my best friend while taking the side of Dracula in Drag.”
    “Dracula in Drag?” For a moment, the nickname was so ridiculous that it sobered me up. The moment didn’t last long enough. “Name calling is so kindergarten.”
    “Yeah? You sure you’re