Escaped the Night Read Online Free PDF Page B

clothes. The colors were too bright, but it was the group of girls standing nearby that I was actually drawn toward. I began sorting through the shirts. I looked up and smiled at one of the girls, but she turned her head. This wasn’t going to be easy. Hesitantly, I pulled a black tank top from the rack and held it up to me. Then I said, “Can I have your opinion?”
     
    A girl with brown hair looked me up and down and laughed. “I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing that.”
     
    The group snickered as they walked away .
     
    Flustered , I turned around and walked in the opposite direction. I debated calling Uncle Dane to come pic k me up. I pulled out my cell and check ed the time. It had only been twenty minutes since he ’d dropped me off. I sighed and shoved the cell back in my purse.
     
    Food . I went up to the counter, waited in the short line and ordered a sandwich and bottle of water. After paying , I sat down at a table o n the far side of the food court . I glanced up every now and then with a smile and watched as the strangers pass ed by .
     
    “Grrrrrr . I hate this, ” I said under my breath. “Never knew I was so invisible.”
     
    I looked up in time to witness an extremely good- looking , brown h aired guy with a baseball hat co me straight over and sit down at my table. He was wearing a black t-shirt , blue jeans and had a patch of hair just under his lip. My heart raced as I looked at the tattoo covering his mus cular arm; it was some kind of Celtic k not going down to his elbow . He was dangerous, delicious and downright irresistible.
     
    I squeaked out a nervous “hello .”
     
    “Hello . ” He raised an eyeb row and gave me a grin . “I’m Jayce. ”
     
    I stared at him blankly.
     
    He smiled. “And y ou are?”
     
    “Shanntal, my name is Shanntal,” I mu mbled . I was so embarrassed I must’ ve been crimson red .
     
    “Shannta l, nice name, ” he said leaning back on the chair . “ You don’t look like you’re from around here.”
     
    “Wow, glad to see I stand out so much. ” I blushed. “ Actually , I just moved to Blackwood a few months back .” I leaned forward in my chair and Jayce copied my every move.
     
    “Does everyone pass by without acknowledging oth ers? I feel like I’ ve come to a forbidden island, no newcomers allowed.” I noticed the weird look on his face and sat myself back into the seat.
     
    He e yed me closely . “Are we that obvious?” he smirked.
     
    I panicked . His reaction wasn’t what I’d expected. Are we that obvious ? What was that supposed to mean?
     
    “What brings you here?”
     
    “Here? You mean the mall or …”
     
    He kept his eyes on me. “Here, as in this forbidden island.”
     
    “Forbidden? Really?”
     
    “I’m only joking around with you.”
     
    “ Oh, ” I said, trying to relax. “I’m staying with my aunt and uncle.”
     
    He nodded, but didn’t say anything, as though expecting me to continue. I wasn’t sure I wanted to share all the details of my life, at least not yet. So I just took a bite of my sandwich.
     
    “ Well now … ” he leaned in closer , flashing his smile. “A girl full of mystery , hmmm… I like it. G uess there’s something you might want to know about me . W hen you act like this , it only makes me want to know more .” He winked and I melted.
     
    “My family was k illed and I’m the sole survivor, ” I blurted. That’s when I expected him to run away as fast as he could, but he didn’t budge.
     
    “Y our entire family? Wow, t hat’s tough. I’m sorry. What happened?”
     
    I tried not to tear up as I began telling him my story. I wrapped my arms around my stomach as if g iving myself a hug . “ I don’t really know. I was at my friends house the night it happened.” I paused . I needed to stay strong. I didn’t want to be come a balling lunatic. “My parents and two sisters were home , when someone or something got into the house.”
     
    Jayce gave me a