Vision of Shadows by Vincent Morrone Read Free Book Online Page A

knowing that some people just don’t learn.
    Pricilla looked over to the side, batted her lashes , and a pair of hormone-driven teenage boys came to her rescue. Once she was vertical again, she patted their cheeks and then pointed to the floor for her things. The two boys obediently went to work. I couldn’t help but wonder if she planned on throwing a dog biscuit their way when they were done.
    Pricilla turned on me, her pretty eyes ablaze in anger. “You must be the new girl. Brianna…”
    “Bristol,” I corrected.
    “Whatever .” Pricilla shrugged. “Bristol Blackburn, of the Blackburn clan. Well, let me welcome you back to Spirit. Personally, I’ve never had much use for Blackburns. I prefer the McKnights.” 
    “Whatever,” I said . “I’ve got to go.”
    “Uh -huh,” Pricilla said, giving me one last look up and down. “I’m sure we’ll run into each other again.”
    “Yeah, me too,” I said. “Can’t hardly wait. Any idea how to get to…” I looked at my schedule. “Mr. Nataldo’s history class?”
    “Sure.” Pricilla smiled sweetly. “Down the hall to the right.” She pointed out the way with a perfectly manicured nail.
    “Thanks .” I took off down the hall, making sure to turn left.
    Maggie was by my side in an instant ; the Metallica kid fell in step as well. “Hey, I’ve got Nataldo now,” Maggie said. “I can take you. If that’s all right?” 
    “Why wouldn’t it be?” I asked.
    “Great!” She beamed. “Hey, how did you know Pricilla told you the wrong direction?”
    I stopped in my tracks and stared at her. The Metallica kid shook his head. “How could I not?”
    Maggie thought about it a moment. “Right. I’m a dummy. Okay. By the way, Maggie Sheppard,” she said as she stuck out her hand and flashed what I thought was a very pretty smile.
    “Bristol Blackburn .” I took her hand firmly and gave it a quick shake. I looked at the Metallica kid over her shoulder, who just shrugged. 
    “Right,” Maggie said , and we started walking again. “It’s right at the end of the hall. I did hear about a new girl coming to school here. It’s been all anyone could talk about. The Blackburn who left Spirit is returning. Very dramatic. Still, I was kinda hoping we could be friends. You know, being like roomies and all.”
    “Huh?” I said.
    Maggie blinked. “Oh, you know your old house? I live there. The one where your parents lived.”
    “Right .” I nodded. “I don’t think I ever saw that house. And if I did, I was just a baby.”
    “I’m sleeping in the room your mom and dad prepared for you. You should come by and see it.”
    I sighed. I was never going to get rid of her. She was like a stray puppy . Once you feed it, it follows you forever. Not that Maggie was hard to like. She seemed real sweet and sincere. It was hard to be annoyed by her, but how was I supposed to keep my secret a secret if she was always around?
    “Maggie has had , like, mucho bad luck in the amigo department,” Metallica Kid said as we made our way down the hall. “No street smarts, but I sense in her a true friend to the end. And she’s really got a bodacious bod if you ask me. Personally, I always liked a little meat on the bones. That Pricilla chick is too supermodel for me. You’re pretty smokin’, too.” 
    Metallica K id checked me out, and I rolled my eyes. 
    “This is it,” Maggie said. “C’mon, let’s get seats in the back , and I’ll tell you all about school.”
    “Be there in a sec,” I said as I dug around in my bag for nothing.  Maggie ran inside and claimed a pair of chairs in the back. I looked at Metallica Kid.
    “Thanks for the heads up, by the way,” I said under my breath.
    “No problema,” he said and started to back away. “By the way, you can call me Jake. Hasta mañana , babe!” He gave me a two-fingered salute before fading through a wall.
    I made it to my seat just as the bell rang. Maggie s at there, happy as a puppy that just got a