Silver is for Secrets by Laurie Faria Stolarz Read Free Book Online

come?” Drea asks.
    “Of course she does,” Amber says, scoping out the trays ful of food that col ect at the pick-up window beside us.
    “I don‟t know,” I say. “Maybe I should go alone.”
    “You‟re actual y going to tel her?” Drea asks. “Just like that? I mean, how are you even going to say it?”
    “Easy,” Amber says, nabbing a fry off someone‟s plate.
    “„Excuse me, Clara,‟” she mimics, “„but I had this incredibly horrible nightmare about you and, well, I have reason to believe that you‟re going to die.‟ Stace, do we have any time frame on the death?”
    I shake my head.
    “I think we should come,” Drea says. “At least me.” She pauses to evil-eye Amber. “I‟ve been through this before. I know what it‟s like to be the victim. I might be able to help ease her.”
    “Oh, and I can’t? ” Amber pipes. She snatches a fried clam strip off somebody‟s tray and pops it into her mouth. “I‟m the queen of ease.”
    “Yeah, that‟s what they say.”
    “Time out,” I say, clutching Jacob‟s crystal, stil in my pocket. I close my eyes for just a moment to breathe the sun‟s energy in—focusing on its ability to enlighten and empower. “Let‟s al go.”

nine
    Clara seems absolutely thril ed to have us join her at the table. I don‟t think her smile could get any wider or more contagious. She‟s sitting on the edge of the bench, practically bouncing up and down in pure delight.
    So how am I supposed to tel her what I have to say? “I‟m so excited to see you guys,” she beams. “Are you eating? Can I treat you to a frappe or some French fries?”
    “Free food?” Amber says, peering up at the menu board. “I‟m so in. I‟l take a super-sized Chocolicious and a mega-bucket of onion rings, please.”
    “Get it yourself,” Drea says.
    “Who died and made you Queen B?” Amber asks. “No wonder you and Chad are fighting.”
    “I didn‟t say we were fighting,” Drea says. “We just got into a little argument.”
    “Oh, real y?” Clara‟s eyes widen. “The blond guy, right? He‟s super cute.”
    “Um . . . thanks,” Drea says, furrowing her eyebrows at the compliment. “I‟m sure he‟l be ready to apologize by the time I get back.”
    “Anyway—” I begin.
     
    “Anyway,” Clara interrupts. “I know what it‟s like to have boy problems. I was seeing this guy who was really, really nice at first. We went to all these fun places together—out to eat, to the movies, downtown. But then all this stuff happened, and he told me that he didn‟t want to see me anymore.”
    “Sounds like a weenie,” Amber says, eyeing the hotdog traveling by on somebody‟s tray. “Okay, I seriously need to snack. Anybody want anything?” We shake our heads, and Amber heads over to the order window.
    “So,” I say, in an effort to steer the conversation back to where I want it. “I think there‟s something we real y need to talk about.”
    “Oh my god,” Clara says, looking toward the order window. “There she is.”
    “Who?” Drea turns to look. There‟s a girl standing behind Amber in line. She‟s got jet-black hair with thick auburn highlights and deeply tan skin, like melted cocoa.
    “That guy I was talking about, the one I was seeing . . . that‟s his ex.”
    “So . . .” Drea says, eyeing the girl‟s style, maybe—the way she‟s completely color-coordinated. Her tangerine-colored flip-flops match her bathing suit, sunglasses, and the watch around her wrist.
    “So she‟s the reason we‟re not together,” Clara says. “He never told me he had a girlfriend, so then when she found us out, she got all wacko and went completely bal istic.”
    “Bal istic how?” I ask, looking back at the girl, wondering if she might be the real threat.
    “Total y nuts,” Clara explains. “She freaked at him, at me . . . I mean, she totally blew things out of proportion.”
    “I don‟t know,” Drea says. “God help the poor boy who cheats on me. Your