The Apocalypse by Jack Parker Read Free Book Online

really."
    Tisha gasped. "You haven't? Oh my God, Han! I can't believe—"
    "Hush, Tish," Morgan interrupted. "Hannah just got home. I highly doubt she feels like socializing with everybody."
    Libby's eyebrows knitted together as she studied Hannah. "Do you still feel bad? We thought you were okay since your mom invited us over."
    "I…I don't know." Hannah took a deep breath and examined her bedspread, spotting a tiny bluish stain. "Everything just feels weird."
    "Of course." Tisha nodded as though she understood perfectly and gave Hannah's forearm a gentle squeeze. "But it'll get better. You're home now."
    Home, Hannah's thoughts echoed. It should have been a memory, but to her, it was just a word without much meaning. Regardless, she gave her friends a small smile and a gentle nod. "Right."
    "We should go shopping," Tisha proposed excitedly. Hannah gave her an odd stare, but no one seemed to notice it. "Yes! That always makes us feel better."
    Morgan scoffed. "Not all of us."
    Making a face, Tisha went on, "It'll be good. Hannah, wouldn't you like some girl time? You've been all cooped up and stuff. We'll even get Häagen-Dazs."
    "Mmm, speaking of food…" Libby hopped off the bed and made for Hannah's closet. "Do you have anything remotely healthy that won't go straight to my hips in here?"
    "In my closet?" Hannah couldn't hide the confusion from her voice.
    "Naturally," Tisha responded with a toss of her light brown hair. She received an elbow from Morgan and then blushed brightly. "Oh yeah. Well, um, Han…you love junk food, and you hide a stash from Isaac in your closet."
    Libby reappeared with a bag of Doritos. "No, not exactly," she argued, removing a handful of chips from the bag. She keeps a stash for late night snacks and for when Jake's over. She can eat without having to see Jake sprawled out somewhere if there's food in her closet."
    "Same thing," Tisha declared.
    A wave of nausea rushed over Hannah. These girls acted like they knew everything about her, and while they probably did …it was maddening because Hannah didn't even know it. Why would she not want to see Jake? Why would she resort to hiding chips in her closet? Hearing them talk about her made Hannah want to throw up.
    " Not the same thing," Libby insisted. Hannah suddenly wasn't sure if she liked the dark beauty or not; it seemed as though this girl wanted to argue about everything. "What does Isaac have to do with Jake?"
    Tisha crossed her arms and narrowed her blue-green eyes. "You just listed another reason, that's all. You added to Hannah's list of motives. Your explanation was as much of a motive as mine was."
    "That makes no sense," Libby proclaimed indignantly. She reached her hand into the bag of chips and ate another handful. "God, Tish, if you're going to—"
    "If you two don't stop arguing, I'm going to hit both of you," Morgan threatened.
    Tisha laughed. "You sound like Hannah! She's the one who's supposed to threaten us, Morg, not you."
    Although confused by Tisha's statement, Hannah was more surprised that no one challenged Morgan's authority. Her immediate thought was to praise Morgan for being her anchor in the storm, but her bafflement hit right after. Was their friendship some kind of dictatorship where Morgan ruled?
    Ever argumentative, Libby tried to get the last word in. "She started it."
    "I don't care who started it!" Hannah saw fury in Morgan's brown eyes. "We didn't come here to upset Hannah even more."
    Concern flickered onto Tisha's face so fast that Hannah almost doubted the sincerity of it. "Oh, I'm sorry, Han," Tisha said quickly. "I guess I forgot."
    "You forgot?" Libby incredulously questioned, but then she smiled the faintest of smiles. "Was that an intended pun there, Tish?" Tisha glared at Libby, and Libby seemed to be on the verge of carrying on an argument with her, but a jab from Morgan shut her up. "Right, right…"
    "So how are you doing, Hannah, aside from the weirdness?" Tisha asked, watching Hannah's face