The Apocalypse by Jack Parker Read Free Book Online Page A

closely. "Your mom and Jake keep saying you're okay, but—"
    "They're all liars, aren't they?" Libby asked with dramatic sarcasm. Tisha shot her a dirty look, but Libby went on, "What? Okay, sorry."
    Hannah disliked Libby more by the second, and Tisha was skating toward thin ice. Hadn't Isaac said that she and Tisha were very best friends? If that were true, why did Tisha's concern seem almost over the top? Morgan seemed to be the only sane one, but Hannah wasn't really sure about that either.
    Tisha sighed softly and focused back on Hannah. "So?"
    So…
    So Hannah didn't know what to say. The only thing she wanted to say seemed cruel, and that kept Hannah from inquiring about Tisha's sincerity. Finally, Hannah decided to speak. If they were the good friends that Isaac claimed that they were, nothing she could say would cause problems. "I guess Mom and Jake are right. I'm okay. But getting adjusted is hard. Not a lot makes sense."
    "I'll say." Libby grinned and flipped her hair. "You haven't even bawled me out for getting into your food stash, and you haven't ripped the bag out of my hands for a single chip." Libby shook her head. "You're right about adjusting."
    Hannah felt her jaw twitch. "I guess I'm not hungry."
    Bursting into laughter, Tisha shook her head. "Wow. That's got to be number one on the list of things no one would expect Hannah to say."
    "Not number one," Libby predictably argued. "I mean, the number one thing would have to be something like—hey. Han?"
    Bounding off the bed, Hannah jerked her bedroom door open and went into the hall. She could hear Morgan lashing out at Libby and Tisha for being 'insensitive bitches,' but Hannah kept walking. Just before she reached the bathroom, Morgan appeared by her side, but Hannah shut her out and locked the bathroom door before puking out what she thought had to be her guts.
    Hannah had ignored the knocking and pounding on the bathroom door and instead opted to take a long hot shower (careful not to wet her hair or stitches), followed by a long hot bath, followed by a lengthy application of body lotion. She'd wasted at least an hour and a half with her beautifying pampering, and if her 'friends' hadn't left by now, she'd throw a temper tantrum until they did.
    Emerging quietly from the bathroom, wrapped in a fluffy pink bath towel, Hannah poked her head into the hallway. It was with pleasure that she noted the absence of girly voices and continued to her bedroom to dress. Just as Hannah was situating her green t-shirt, a knock sounded at her door.
    It took a lot for Hannah to refrain from groaning. "Yes?"
    The door opened a crack, and Isaac stuck his head in. "Hey. Mom asked me to come get you. Uh, dinner's ready."
    "Oh, okay, thanks." Without a reason to hesitate, Hannah made for the door, flicked out her bedroom light, and followed Isaac to the stairway. "Whatever she cooked smells fantastic."
    Isaac beamed. "Spaghetti and meatballs with garlic breadsticks."
    Hannah's stomach rumbled audibly, and it was only then that she realized her hunger. "Sounds good," she replied as the twosome approached the kitchen. Voices startled Hannah, but she realized that they belonged to Diane and Jake. Apparently the Allens dined at the Ayers home regularly.
    "Hi, Hannah." Diane smiled brightly from her place beside the stove. She and Patricia appeared to be putting food onto plates. "I heard you slept all day like a lazy bum."
    With a wry smile, Hannah sat down at the table next to Jake, and Isaac took the seat on her other side. "Pretty much. The car ride was exhausting."
    Diane laughed and shared a significant glance with Patricia. Isaac and Jake seemed to share one too, but Hannah was in the dark as to what it was about. Her stomach flopped sickeningly, giving Hannah the idea that nausea was going to be her friend when she didn't understand things. Well, that'd be okay, since Hannah felt like she was lacking in the friends department anyway.
    "I see your sarcasm is back already,"