The Pandora Project by Heather A. Cowan Read Free Book Online Page B

you around, she seems pretty into you and probably more your type.” Jerk.
    He mimes stabbing a knife through his heart, “Ouch! I don’t want Ashlynn to show me around, I want you to. Please?”
    “I really have to go. Now.” Trying to dodge around him without touching him again, I finally get in my car and close the door. I waste no time streaking out of the parking lot.
    Picking up my phone I press the speed dial key for Dad at work. “Pick up, pick up.” It goes straight to his private voice mail; he must be in with a patient. I leave a message for him, “Dad, get home as soon as you can. Mom and I have a surprise for you.” I try to sound normal, but he will recognize the catch phrase and know something is wrong.
    Two blocks out from the house I start mentally calling Mom’s name, Mom, Mom !
    What’s the matter?
                  “Something, I’m not sure what, just be ready. I already left the message for Dad.”
                  Is it that bad?
    “I don’t know!”
    OK, try to relax. I’m right here.
    I’m breathing heavy and my hands are on fire. They are always warmer than the rest of my body, but right now I feel like they are going to explode. I try to slow my breathing, but I am already well on my way to hyperventilating.
    By the time I get home, my vision is starting to tunnel and there are shooting lights in the corners of my vision. I pull into the driveway and have to lay my head on the steering wheel just to collect myself enough to get inside.
    I storm through the house to Dad’s office as fast as my shaky legs will carry me. I know Mom will be there waiting for me. When she hears me come through the door, she opens her arms to me and I run into them. She hugs me until I stop shaking. “How far away is Dad?”
    “Very close, tell me what is going on and I will relay every word to your father.”
    I tell her about John, which doesn’t take very long and as I tell the story, it seems silly. Maybe I just freaked out. Don’t all boys want to be invited over to a pretty girl’s house? Is it so crazy that he asked to come over? Maybe he thought he was being sexy, whispering in my ear like that. Great, not only am I monster, I am a complete moron when it comes to the opposite sex.
    But why would I have to trust him? Trust him not to hurt me? I mean it is the twenty-first century and he is from a big city. The more I think about it, the more horrified I am with my behavior. “I’m sorry, Mom. Maybe I just overreacted.” I throw myself down on the sofa and cover my eyes with my hands. They are not so hot now that I have calmed down. Should I mention this new development to my parents? They have so much to worry about already.
    Mom’s face takes on the vacant expression that is a sure sign she is talking to Dad. Her vision clears and she finally looks at me. “No, Sweetheart, I don’t think you were overreacting. We had a strange day as well.”
    “Strange bad?”
    “Not good. We met Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan.”
    My stomach sinks a little and I sit up, so I can give her my full attention, “And?”
    “And it was very inconclusive.” Mom isn’t normally evasive so I know things are bad.
    “ How so?”
    She comes over and sits beside me, placing one hand on my knee. “Most of the time, when I am listening to people, it doesn’t sound like a conversation. Even when I am talking to you and your father and you are thinking words directly at me, there is a lot of background noise. None of us can control all of our thoughts all the time.”
    “That makes sense, it is not like we always think in full conversations.” I know I jump from thought to thought constantly.
    “Exactly. When you know I am talking to you telepathically, there is a lot less background noise, you are concentrating on what we are saying and it focuses you. When I accidentally overhear your thoughts…”
    “Mom …” I start to complain, I hate the idea that I have no privacy.
    “I don’t do