Unleashed by Rachel McClellan Read Free Book Online Page B

uphold its image. We can’t have you screwing it up,” Kate always told her. Although Claire knew she was joking, her words held truth.
    On the way to school, she told Kate about the footprints.
    “Maybe it’s a friend of your mother’s,” she said.
    “That’s what I thought, too, but why would the pervert be looking in my window?” As soon as the words left her mouth, Gary’s scary image came to her mind. He wouldn’t, would he? She shook her head, knowing that he would.
    “Did you check beneath your mother’s window?” Kate was inspecting her cherry-red nails while also trying to watch the road.
    She frowned. “No.”
    “Well there you go. He probably saw you, and then moved on to find your mother—which he regretted and then returned to watch the true beauty in the home.”
    She smacked Kate’s arm. “Stop! The last thing I want to think about is a peeping Tom. As if I’m not freaked out enough by that girl in the locker room.”
    And Gary and the conversation she’d overheard.
    “Right. Sorry. It was probably nothing. The gas man, maybe, looking to see if anyone’s home.”
    “Yeah, the gas man,” Claire mumbled.
    Kate drove into the school’s parking lot and parked. “So I think I found a bass player to replace Logan.”
    “Good.”
    “Why? I thought you liked having him play with us.” Kate opened her door.
    Claire followed her out. “I did, but he’s been acting weird lately.”
    “Weird, how?”
    “I think he likes me,” she said and grimaced, like the words tasted bad.
    Kate burst out laughing and started for the school.
    “What’s so funny?”
    “He’s like your brother.”
    “I know, right?”
    Kate tossed her hair over her shoulder. “So are you into him?”
    “No, not at all. I don’t think, anyway.”
    Kate flashed her eyes over Claire’s shoulder and whispered, “Speaking of kissing your brother…here he comes. ”
    Claire punched her in the arm and turned around. Logan was walking toward them grinning.
    “How are my two most favorite ladies?” he said.
    Kate’s eyes met hers and she laughed again. “I gotta go. See you in class.” She took off up the stairs and into the doors of the school.
    Claire stared after her, wishing Kate hadn’t left her alone.
    “You ready for tonight?” he asked.
    “Yeah, sure. I hope we raise enough money though.”
    “We will. I know a lot of people who are coming.” He moved to go inside.
    “Logan,” Claire said, stopping him. “I guess we won’t be needing you after tonight. In the band.”
    His eyebrows rose. “How come?”
    “Kate found someone else.”
    He paused and looked down. “Hey, if this is about last night, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to freak you out.”
    “It’s not about that, but, yeah, it was weird.”
    He shrugged. “I’ll back off then, but I want you to know that I like you. Really like you. But your friendship means more to me. Maybe in the future?”
    Claire smiled. “Sure. If you still like me when I’m thirty, then I’m all yours.”
    “I’ll hold you to that.” He returned the smile. “Now let’s hurry before Mr. Adams writes us up.”
     
    Like always, school dragged, but Claire didn’t complain. Something far more important had earned her angry cursings—the weather. She kept hoping it would lighten up by the time the concert started, but no such luck and she was pissed. Of all nights for it to rain, why did it have to be tonight? She glanced around the corner of the stage. A crowd had gathered, but not as big as it should’ve been.
    “At least we didn’t have to cancel,” Steph said.
    Claire turned around. Steph, who looked unconcerned about their predicament, drummed in the air. She wore black leggings beneath a red and black striped dress. Steph’s outfit almost matched hers, except Claire’s dress was black and white.  As usual, Kate had done a great job coordinating their look for tonight.
    “Could be worse. We could’ve played at Ocean Side,” Steph said. Ocean