Dia of the Dead Read Online Free PDF Page A

said “hell no” to me going anywhere with Mason Jackson.
    I sighed and looked around. The song transitioned into something that made the crowd “woooooo!” Ashlee-Marie from Totally Tubular Television or Tri-T, exclaimed, “This is my jam!” as she hustled her . . . uh . . . extra rubenesque frame toward the stairs in a pair of chunky heels.
    “Okay. This is my jam too.” Brendan snapped his fingers. “I can’t stand here much longer pretending like I don’t want to dance with you, Dia. So how ‘bout it?”  He set those blue-blue eyes on me and extended his hand.
    I looked out onto the dance floor at the tons of people dancing. I spotted BB and Reagan near the stage.  They looked to be having fun. Taylor danced with Mason while an angry fluff of pink krumped just a little outside of his orbit. I had to talk to Kaci about the Mason thing after the party.
    With so many people, I was sure no one would notice if Brendan and I were to join them. I put my hand in his. A spark ripped through my entire body like a mini lightning bolt. Brendan dropped my hand.
    “You felt it too?” I asked.
    “Yeah. Sorry. I ran out of dryer sheets.”
    “Oh. . . It’s okay. Totally okay.” I grabbed his hand again. At that moment, I knew what every boy band in the world sang about in their songs. I was in love.
    Okay, not really but the party was definitely looking up. 
    I floated toward the doors that lead to the first floor hand-in-hand with Brendan Baker and right into a pair of girls stumbling up the stairs toward us. I stopped, frozen in place. A silent scream rose in my throat.
    “O-O-OMG!” I stammered pointing at the girls.  One of them I recognized immediately. Pretty and petite with long black hair and warm brown eyes. “Viv!” 
    “You can call me Amber.” She smiled as she struggled to keep the girl beside her on her feet.
    “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Oh my god. Amber Lao!” I shrieked. “And Missy? Missy Bolton?”
    “What?” The thin dirty blonde girl snapped.
    I was staring at Bixby Royalty in wide-eyed adoration. Missy Bolton and Amber La o, or Maddie Charles and Viv Lee as I knew the m, stood in front of me. Well, Amber stood, supporting her friend who leaned on the wall of the stairwell.
    “Looks like we’ve got ourselves a mini reunion here.” Brendan said. “Good seeing you, Amby. Miss.”
    “Brendan!” Missy launched forward, leaping onto Brendan nearly knocking him to the floor.
    “Hey!” She yelled into his face.
    “Uh. Hey.” He untangled her arms from around his neck. “Geez, Miss.  You smell. . .flammable.” He wrinkled his nose.
    Missy threw her head back and laughed. She nearly tumbled down the stairs but Brendan caught her by the ar m .
    “Whoa. What have you been drinking?”
    “Nnnnnothing,” Missy sang.
    Amber sighed heavily. “She was like this when I got to her apartment. It took forever for us to get here. Luckily when security saw her, they let us use the back entrance. I’m trying to get her to the bathroom to sober her up.”
    “That’s a good idea. Come on, Miss.” Brendan draped Missy’s arm around his neck to support her as Amber pulled down her silver dress that was dangerously close to revealing her assets.
    “Just like old times.” Brendan sighed as he and Amber turned and began lugging a cackling Missy toward the door.
    “Dia, can you get that?” he asked.
    “Sure.” I turned and opened the door, holding it as they passed.
    Missy Bolton’s presence in Lavender didn’t stay secret for long. As soon as she crossed the threshold into VIP, she pushed Brendan and Amber aside, steadied herself in her sky-high heels and turned on the Missy Bolton charm.  She slurred greetings to the bartenders who refused to give her even a soda.  She grinded on a very embarrassed Ali Khadair from Tri-T. Amber wrestled her away from him but not before she planted a sloppy kiss on Ali, leaving behind a red smear of lipstick on his nose and cheek. She even stopped