The Deepest Cut by J. A. Templeton Read Free Book Online Page A

A girl who could see and talk to ghosts wasn’t exactly the norm. And God forbid they found out about my cutting. Back home I’d managed to keep my secret relatively safe, but I’d also become a loner in the process.
    “I have a confession to make,” he said, and I instantly straightened, afraid of his
    next words. “I saw you today at registration and tried to get your attention.”
    I sighed inwardly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you.”
    “Yeah, you seemed a bit preoccupied.” He leaned into me, his lips close to my ear.
    “How about I introduce you around?” His breath was hot against my neck and I couldn’t ignore the sudden racing of my heart.
    “Sure,” I said, following behind him. Johan stayed by my side every second, except when I excused myself and went to the bathroom, where I poured the mixed drink into the sink, and set the cup on the cluttered kitchen counter on my way back to the living room.
    Unfortunately, when I returned, I noticed Shane was getting really clumsy, nearly knocking over an end table and lamp.
    We would have to leave soon, and I knew he’d probably argue with me, but I wasn’t
    leaving without him. I’d pull in reinforcements if I had to, although I was beginning to think I might be the only sober person in the place.
    Johan put his hand on my hip. “Come on, loosen up, big sister.”
    Granted, the attention was nice…but he was getting a little too comfortable, and I didn’t want anyone getting certain ideas.
    “We need to go soon. Our dad is pretty strict.”
    He nodded in understanding, though he looked disappointed that I was going to leave. “I’ll walk you home, if you’d like.”
    “Thanks,” I said, grateful for the offer.
    Shane was going to be a handful, and I could use all the help I could get. “Maybe in about twenty minutes?”
    “Sounds good,” he said, flashing a smol-dering smile that made me feel slightly flushed.
    The warm and fuzzy feeling left me when from the corner of my eye I saw someone watching me. Uneasiness rippled along my spine, and when I turned, I noticed a girl staring at me from across the room.
    My stomach fell to my toes.
    Laria.
    She moved behind a group of people. She wasn’t walking, but rather gliding across the floor, moving in exaggerated slow motion.
    Everytime I caught a glimpse of her, those dark eyes were looking straight at me and I swear she never blinked.
    I stepped closer to Johan and didn’t even realize that I’d reached for his hand until his fingers threaded through mine. Terrified, I squeezed his hand as Laria stopped beside Shane.
    Warning bells rang in my ears when Laria put a hand on Shane’s shoulder. She turned her face toward the side of his, her lips near
    his ear and she whispered something, all the while she watched me.
    Shane, who had been talking to Richie, stopped in mid-sentence, his brows furrow-ing as he looked to his right. Richie just kept on talking, but I could see the disturbed look in my brother’s eyes. He leaned forward, set his drink on the table, and shook his head as though to clear it.
    The corners of Laria’s mouth curved in a malicious smile as her hand slid toward Shane’s neck, her fingers squeezing tight—
    Shane started coughing, and I rushed over to him, reached out, and jerked him toward me.
    “Let’s go,” I said louder than necessary, my gaze shifting to Laria, who laughed maliciously, the sound making the hair on my arms stand on end.
    My cheeks burned as the others looked at me like I’d lost my mind. I was probably
    coming off as a bitch, but there’s not much I could do about it.
    Thank God Shane didn’t argue with me.
    He brushed his hand over his neck—in the exact spot Laria’s hand had been moments before.
    Johan was beside me a second later, his hand resting at my back. “Is everything okay?”
    “Yeah, I think it’s just time for us to leave.
    Will you walk us home now?”
    He nodded, still looking surprised by my strange behavior. “Sure, no