Banished: Book 1 of The Grimm Laws Read Online Free PDF

…”
    “Oh, yeah, the head injury thing. It’s Rae, your best friend. Geez, how many times am I going to have to keep reintroducing myself!”
    “Rae, I’m so glad you called.” Rae had been the one bright spot in her gray-cast life. From the moment she’d awoken from the coma, Rae had come to the hospital everyday to check on her. Even though she found her outspokenness intimidating, there was something endearing about the spiky-haired redhead. She was so real and practical. Just hearing her voice helped to restore a measure of sanity.
    “Where are you? Miss Caskill’s looking all over the place for you. The woman’s gonna blow a pipe if you don’t show up soon.”
    She swallowed hard. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to make it.”
    “What?” Rae was yelling and there was lots of noise in the background.
    Elle told her about the chocolate smeared over the dress and how Sera and Josselyn left her there.
    “Okay, let me think. Can you get the chocolate out?”
    “I don’t know. I don’t really know how to get stains—”
    “Can you Google it?”
    “Yeah, I could do that …”
    “Never mind, there’s no time. Do you have another dress?”
    Elle thought about the yellow dress. Her heart lifted. “Yes, I do have another dress.” She was surprised she hadn’t thought of it sooner. She stood and went to the closet, frantically searching through the clothes. “It’s not here!”
    “What?”
    “The dress!” She threw up her hands. “It’s not here! Josselyn must’ve taken it.”
    “Well, go get it!”
    “Yes, I will.”
    “Okay, I’ll get someone to pick you up.”
    “Can’t you come and get me?”
    She let out an amused chuckle. “You really have lost your memory, Elle. I’m here at the game with the cheering squad. I can’t leave. The only reason you’re off the hook tonight is because you’re in the homecoming court. Otherwise, your butt would be here with me.”
    That’s right. She was a cheerleader—the head cheerleader. It was so strange that she had no recollection of any of it. Would she remember the cheers or how to do the jumps? What if she’d not only lost her memory but her abilities as well? The thought was chilling.
    “Look, you just get ready and go out on the front porch. Someone will be there in fifteen minutes to pick you up. I’ll stall Miss Caskill.”
    “Okay, I’ll get ready. Rae …”
    “Yes.”
    “Thanks!”
    “Yep, anytime.”
    At least she had one person in her corner. It was comforting to know that Rae was on her side, especially considering that she couldn’t say the same for her own family. She rushed to Josselyn’s room and threw open the door. She went to the closet and began pulling out hangers, frantically searching for the dress. Then she saw it. She grabbed it and was halfway back to her room when she saw the large rip down the side. “Really?” This couldn’t be happening! The dress was fine the last time she looked at it, which was yesterday when she decided to wear the blue one instead. Had Josselyn ripped it on purpose, so she wouldn’t have anything to wear? She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. The whole situation was absurd. She sat on the bed and blew out a breath, feeling the time ticking away, but unable to come up with a solution. More tears welled in her eyes, and she angrily brushed them away.
    The doorbell rang. She jumped up. Rae said she was sending someone to pick her up, but it had only been five minutes … and she was supposed to meet the person on the front porch.
    The doorbell rang again, followed by loud knocking. “I’m coming!” she huffed, running down the stairs. More knocking. “Geez, I’m coming!” She stomped to the front door and threw it open. Her jaw dropped. “You!” She took a step back.
    There he was, the guy from next door, in the flesh—standing there, looking her over from head to toe. “Where’s your dress?”
    “What?” Her heart bumped up a notch. This guy had hijacked