Vision of Shadows by Vincent Morrone Read Free Book Online

for a moment why I stopped where I was, but she continued on her way as if I wasn’t worth the time. 
    As she started to round the corner, she was hit face first wit h a great, big ball of zaniness.
    At least that was the only way I could think to describe the colorful girl who came careening around the corner, her frizzy hair flying in all directions , as she slammed into Ms. Pretty, Perfect, and Perky. I watched in both horror and amusement as the two of them bounced off each other and fell to the floor with a thump that echoed through the hallway. 
    Laughter exploded as the two girls tried to pry their way free of one another. Princess P—my new name for the blonde—was instantly livid. She let loose on the other girl, using words that would make a trucker blush. 
    I took a better look at the other girl. She was dark-skinned, a little short, and a little chubby. She wore a bright orange top with mint green stretchy pants. Her eyeglasses were also orange and green. To be honest, her outfit was so loud I was surprised I could hear the blonde girl scream and curse.
    “What is wrong with you?” Princess P yelled as she stood. “You knocked right into me! Don’t you watch where you’re going ? And why are you picking up your things? What about my stuff?” With flaring but still perfect nostrils, she swiped out her hand and knocked whatever books and papers the other girl had managed to get together back down to the floor. I watched in astonishment as papers floated gently in all directions.
    “I’m sorry ,” the frizzy-haired girl muttered. “I didn’t see you, Pricilla. I was just trying to get to class on time.”
    Pricill a — oh, what a perfect name for her; it even started with a P — shot the other girl a look of loathing, as if someone had just told the Princess that she was now required to wipe her own ass or something.
    “Maggie, you imbecile ,” Pricilla said. “You knocked me down. You should be shot.” Maggie pushed herself upright. Then with one quick motion, Priscilla tripped Maggie back to the ground. “God, you’re pathetic.”
    T he wise course of action would be to bypass this little display and make my way to my first class. I was fairly certain getting involved in this situation would be against my better judgment. I preferred to stay under the radar. This wouldn’t be under the radar. In fact, this would be right in the middle of the radar.
    But looking down at this girl named Maggie with her slightly chubby frame and her wild frizzy hair that was sticking out in all directions as she failed about, trying to regain any dignity she could; the wisdom of staying out of it just didn’t seem to matter.
    I walked over to Maggie and extended my hand to her. When she looked up at me, her eyes were filled with tears and gratitude. As I pulled her up, I could sense her thankfulness. She looked as if she might throw herself down at my feet for such a simple act of courtesy. 
    I looked over Maggie’s shoulder to see a boy in a Metallica T-shirt with long, dirty blond hair and ripped faded blue jeans. “Yo,” he called. “Watch out behind you, dudette!” I didn’t spare a moment wondering what I was watching out for. I simply grabbed Maggie and pulled both of us to the side. 
    I felt Pricilla brush by and trip as I hadn’t quite moved my foot quickly enough. She hit the floor with a loud smack that once again reverberated through the school, followed by laughter all around. The teen in the Metallica shirt pumped his fist.
    Pricilla’s mouth formed a perfect O as she pushed to her knees and glared at me. “You.” She pointed at me. “You did that on purpose!”
    “Did what? Move out of the way so you couldn’t knock me on my ass? Yeah, I did, but seeing you fall on yours wasn’t planned, just a bonus.”
    “Shut up and help me up ,” Princess P demanded. 
    “What, so you can pull me down?” I said as Maggie mov ed to offer a hand to Pricilla. I yanked her back with a sigh,