The Xoe Meyers Trilogy (Xoe Meyers Young Adult Fantasy/Horror Series) Read Free Book Online Page B

She glanced at me with an annoyed expression. “Hello? Xoe? Are you listening?”
    Snapping out of my thoughts, I answered, “Sorry Al, I just have a lot on my mind right now.” I gave her my full attention.
    “Like what?” she prompted, looking concerned as she watched the road in front of us.
    “Um, Dan said something weird to me,” I replied after a moment of hesitation.
    Allison waited a few seconds, and then seeing that I wasn’t going to elaborate questioned, “Well? What did he say?”
    As a scowl formed on my face, I began to rant, “First, he stares at me all week in English, but never says a word. He talks to you guys like you’re perfectly normal. Then he manhandles me in the theater, demanding to know what I'm up to!What is that supposed to mean!”
    Perplexed, Allison asked, “What you're up to? I should think it quite obvious . . . you’re up to being crazy. And what do you mean, manhandled ?”
    “He grabbed my arm and got in my face!”
    Allison glanced worriedly at me, finally taking me seriously. “Did you provoke him or something?”
    I gave her an outraged look.
    Allison had the courtesy to look abashed as she turned her attention back to the road. “Sorry, stupid question. Shouldn’t we just talk to him about it? Give him a chance to explain himself?”
    I shook my head, my anger fading into confusion. “No, I don't think that's a good idea. Let’s just keep an eye on him, okay?”
    “I guess,” Allison conceded, “though it’s probably all just a misunderstanding.”
    Realizing that I still hadn’t convinced her, I stared at Allison angrily.
    Allison reached a red light and tried to stare me down.
    I kept staring right back, jaw clenched stubbornly.
    Allison sighed. “I’m sure he was just joking. As for the staring, I think it’s all in your head. He just has a weird sense of humor.” The light turned green and she hit the gas.
    I tried a calmer approach. “I have a bad feeling Al, I’ve had it all week, I can’t explain it, but I’m worried.”
    The concern returned to Allison’s face. “We’ll keep an eye on him Xoe, but I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.”
    Hardly placated, I sat silently with my arms crossed the rest of the ride to Irvine’s.
    We met Dan and Lucy in the parking lot and went inside the restaurant to order our pizza. The pizza at Irvine’s isn’t particularly good or anything, but it’s where we always went. We didn’t really have that many choices. Plus, Irvine’s is relatively adult-free.
    The pizza parlor was decorated kind of like a retro diner. Red vinyl stools surrounded the counter and an old-style jukebox with neon lights dominated the back corner of the restaurant.We grabbed a booth that kept to the red vinyl theme and waited. Lucy sat next to Dan, still wearing his coat, with her shoulder pressed against his arm. She looked tiny next to him, especially with the jacket engulfing her narrow shoulders. Everyone dutifully ignored the menacing glares I periodically aimed at Dan. The waitress came and went.
    “Xoe?” Lucy asked eventually. I had spaced out from the conversation, as I tend to do.
    “Huh?” I replied.
    “I asked what your plans are for tomorrow,” she continued. “I was thinking about hiking. We haven’t gone up the trail behind your house in a while.”
    Dan looked back and forth between the two of us, as if taking in every detail.
    “Oh, yeah, sounds good,” I mumbled as the waitress arrived with our pizza.
    She leaned much farther over the table than was necessary, drawing attention to her low-cut red blouse, and making eyes at Dan. Had all of the girls in town gone crazy? It was the only explanation. The smell of sausage and mushrooms wafted up from the pizza and my mood brightened a little. Food was always a sure-fire way to draw me out of my doldrums.
    I looked up from the pizza to see that Lucy, Al, and ironically Dan (who was too rude to be polite) were all hesitating, not wanting to be the first