Magnolia Blossoms Read Online Free PDF Page A

worry until you can’t make any noise. Go ahead. I’ll stay here with you until you stop.”
    My eyes water, I’m pretty sure I rupture something in my nasal cavity, and I make some of the oddest noises ever emitted from a human, but I finally stop coughing. My gaze drifts to Jace’s crotch again. Damn it! Get a grip, woman! The worst part is that I think he notices because he quickly bounces on his heels to stand upright, says a quick goodbye, and rejoins his partner at the ambulance. I’m humiliated!
    “Let’s get you home,” Sunny says.
    “Yesh! Pwease!” I say, utterly embarrassed, yet strangely turned on.

 
    Chapter Four
    The first week home proves to be incredibly boring. I sleep for the most part, which is easy to do since I haven’t had anything solid to eat since before the accident. When I’m not sleeping, I find myself pondering my quest for notoriety. Two things are for sure: I need to find a technique that doesn’t involve blood, and I need to start working out because things that don’t involve blood generally require brute strength. I feel queasy remembering the blood pouring from the small cut on Mr. Gaine’s neck. Nope. Not gonna happen.
    Is becoming a serial killer the only way I can make a name for myself? Men don’t give me a second look, women ignore me, my parents tolerate me, and I have no discernible talent to speak of, so realistically, what other avenue do I have? I’ll never be famous; infamy is definitely the best route. But, no blood. What do I do? Fire?
    Arson requires hardly any physical strength, it’s virtually foolproof, and the necessary tools can be easily obtained. I can still be known as the Red Daisy. Instead of drawing on my victims, I’ll draw my signature mark on an object near the structure. Genius! No mess on my part at all!
    I suddenly feel a slight burst of energy and reach for my laptop to search accelerants, but I close it quickly. Who will be my first victim now? Mr. Gaines has well but earned his reprieve. One of the bad things about having no social life is that I know no one. Kind of makes it hard to pick a victim. Forlornly, I realize that my only option is to socialize. I’ll have to partake in Sunny’s class. Surely, one of the old coots in there will be teetering on death’s door. I’ll be doing him or her a favor! Oh, but at what cost? Sunny has a strict “nude only” policy for her art classes. How badly do I really want this? Pretty damned bad.
    Donning a terrycloth robe, I anxiously peep through the glass windows of the in-house art studio. Sunny is stretching, which is downright disturbing from my angle. I lightly rap on the glass to garner her attention. At first she looks confused, then slightly perturbed, and finally, she hides it all with a smile.
    “Is everything okay, Magnolia?” she asks, opening the glass door just wide enough to squeeze the words out.
    “Shy wash hoping to take shore cwass today.”
    “Really? You want to take my class? Well, okay then! Welcome. The others should be arriving any moment. I know you don’t have supplies, so pick a canvas from the shelf, and I’ll put together a few things for you to use. We’re going to be painting people frolicking in the park. Isn’t that exciting?”
    “Sure. Shounds gwate.” Frustrated with my speech, I shake my head.
    Sunny carries an assortment of acrylic paint tubes over to me. “Don’t let negative thoughts and emotions mar today. You get all of your hardware removed in a week. Not too much longer now. Let’s cleanse you of this negativity. Close your eyes, deep breath in…”
    “I can’t,” I say, touching my nasal splint.
    “Oh, well, never mind. Mr. Davis and Mr. Curtis are coming up the walk. They always take a spot in the front. You may set up wherever you like.” She dashes to the door. “Hello, gentlemen! How are you this fine morning? Ready to create a masterpiece?” she sing songs.
    “Hiya, Sunny! You’re looking just as firm as ever,” the