After Eden Read Online Free PDF Page B

“What planet are you from?” And then I noticed his expression. He looked sickened. “Are you a vegetarian?” I asked.
    “Yes.”
    I couldn’t figure him out. He seemed so normal and yet at times, so strange. How could he not know what burgers were? He was American. Burgers were like their national dish or something. And Matt had said something about Ryan not knowing who Hitler was. Maybe he was a member of a strict sect like the Amish who didn’t allow any connection with the modern world. But that didn’t make sense. He didn’t look Amish and he drove a car. Or maybe he was part of a religious group that forbade the eating of all animals? Animal rights campaigner? Child of commune-living hippies? Member of a cult? I checked out his shoes, which were on the sand by his backpack. They looked like they were made of tough leather, like his jacket.
    “How long have you been vegetarian?” I asked.
    “Always.” He breathed in deeply and looked me straight in the eye. “What will you be eating?”
    “The veggie stuff like you—I’m a vegetarian too.”
    He breathed out. “Good.”
    “Does it matter that much?” I asked.
    He was still looking at me intensely. “It matters to me.”
    The afternoon passed quickly. We ate and then Matt andAmy lit the bonfire and everyone drank bottled beer or Juiska, little pink or blue bottles of vodka and juice.
    As the sun slipped below the horizon and the temperature dropped, everyone gradually drew their blankets closer to the bonfire. Connor and I were alone on our blanket, sitting as close to the fire as we dared. I was ready to go home.
    “There’s Venus,” Connor said, staring up at an unblinking point of light in the sky.
    “How do you know that?” I asked. “It just looks like a normal star to me.”
    “Do you see any other stars in the sky?”
    I looked around. It wasn’t yet dark enough for the usual spread of stars.
    “Venus is the brightest object in the night sky after the moon,” said Connor. “And she doesn’t flicker like the stars do. Her light is steadier.”
    “What does it look like through a telescope?”
    “She, not it,” said Connor. “Venus is named after the goddess of love and beauty. Through a telescope you can see her disk shape. Right now, she’s a crescent shape.”
    “Connor!” I heard Megan call.
    I looked up and watched as Megan slurred her way over to us. She half stumbled onto the blanket and put her arm around Connor. “You ready to walk me home?” Her words tumbled over themselves.
    “Yeah. It looks like you’ve had enough.”
    Megan leaned against his shoulder.
    “How are you getting home?” Connor asked me.
    “I’m not sure,” I said, looking for Ryan.
    “You’re not going to let him drive you home I hope,” said Connor. “He was drinking beer earlier.”
    He didn’t need to say Ryan’s name for me to know that was who he was talking about.
    “He hasn’t been drinking,” I said.
    “I saw him with a bottle of beer.”
    “He hasn’t taken a single sip.” I pointed to the full bottle of beer, still standing in the sand.
    Connor snorted. “How do you know that’s the same bottle?”
    “I just do. Anyway, his sister’s going to drive us home.”
    Connor pulled Megan to her feet and put an arm around her. “Are we still studying tomorrow or have you made plans with Westland?”
    “Of course we’re still studying tomorrow,” I said. “I wish you’d stop making assumptions just because I happened to get a lift with Ryan. It’s ridiculous. Anyone would think you were jealous!”
    “I’m not jealous of him. I’m just bored with you and Megan—and every other girl within a ten mile radius of Perran—acting as though there’s a total eclipse every time Ryan Westland sits down.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Next week he’ll be old news. We’ll all go back to worshiping you.”
    “If only that was true. I’d better get Megan home. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
    I nodded. “Feel better,