Haunting Zoe Read Online Free PDF Page A

tell your
mother right now.”
    He straightens, a cocky grin spreading across
his face. That’s a look I’m more used to seeing on him recently.
“You’re going to go tell my mommy on me? What, are we five
again?”
    I grunt and flip him off, throwing the door
open.
    “Wait!” I hear him call behind me but I keep
going. Inside the main room his parents have taken seats next to
Kaylee in the front row. Ignoring the minister speaking from the
pulpit I stride up the center aisle, stomping angrily. I’m almost
to the front when I realize something. The dark brown casket is
open. My pace slows and I see Logan’s face, his eyes are closed
like he’s sleeping inside the white satin lined box. I spin,
looking behind me, but he’s gone. I spin back around and take the
final steps to the coffin, clutching the sides for support.
    Up close, I’m not sure what I’m seeing. He
looks kinda puffy and waxy. Maybe that’s how he’s doing it. Maybe
it’s some kind of wax dummy. I reach out to touch his face when a
sob from behind me snaps me out of it. Two pairs of arms grab me
from either side, Carlos on my left and my mother on my right. They
quickly usher me back down the aisle to a chorus of sobs and camera
snaps. I’m shaking. Around me there is a thick white fog clouding
the very edges of my vision.
    “Mom?” I ask.
    She’s soothing me, patting my hair and
rubbing my back. Outside they lead me to the car amidst more
cameras clicking. I can barely walk. My knees are like Jell-O and I
feel like I’m breathing through a straw. I gasp and the fog gets
worse. I feel Carlos slip me into the passenger seat of mom’s old
Camry then he thrusts a bottle of cold, sweaty water in my
hand.
    “Are you okay Zoe?” My mother asks, kneeling
in front of me.
    She has her nurse face on and I know if I say
the wrong thing, I’m going to end up spending the night in the
hospital.
    “I think she’s in shock,” Carlos says,
patting my hand gently. I pull it away.
    “Not helping, Carlos.” I look over at my
mother who is clearly on the edge of panic. “I’m fine. Just,
overwhelmed. Can we just go home?” She nods, patting my knee before
moving to the other side of the car. Carlos gently turns me in my
seat, trying to help me buckle. Behind him, on the steps to the
funeral home, Logan is standing in the sunlight. Only, the
reporters are all ignoring him.
    I grab Carlos by the lapel and jerk my head
towards the stairs.
    “Do you see that?”
    He turns and looks over his shoulder.
“What?”
    “Do you see anyone on the steps?”
    He frowns, “No. Why?”
    I shake my head, squeezing my eyes shut.
“Never mind. I think my breakfast grape juice fermented. I’m gonna
go home and lay down for a bit.”
    He shuts the door and I lean out the window
to give him a peck on the cheek.
    “Take care, sweetie. Call me later when you
are feeling better.”
    I tug my hair out of the bun and let it fall
around my shoulders. A familiar ache is growing inside my skull and
I know if I leave it in, it’ll only make it worse. “I will.”
    He steps back onto the curb and we speed off.
I don’t open my eyes all the way home, I just let the cool wind
blow knots into my hair and try not to think of the thousands of
pictures of me freaking out coffin-side that are hitting the web as
we speak, or of Logan’s face in that coffin.
    I fail on both counts.
     
    ***
     
     
    By the time I open my eyes, the sun is
shining full strength through my bedroom window. Somehow I’ve made
it out of my clothes and into my soft blue pajama pants and grey
tank top. I groan, rolling over and glancing at the alarm clock.
The flashing red 4:13 makes me jerk up, tossing off the warm green
comforter and leaping to my feet. I open my door, but the house is
completely silent. A piece of paper is taped to my door.
     
    Zoe-
    Working a double shift. Call me if you aren’t feeling
better soon. Don’t forget to pick up what you need for school!
    Love,
    Mom
     
    I rip the