Romancing the Dark in the City of Light Read Online Free PDF

says, looking at Summer defiantly.
    “This is Summer,” says Moony.
    Summer forces a weak smile at the thought that she could sit on this girl and smush her.
    The three-minute warning bell rings.
    Jackie puts her long glossy fingernails on Moony’s deformed arm, and tosses her hair. “I’ll call you later,” she says.
    “Good,” he responds.
    Summer scowls at Jackie’s back as she minces off. So Moony and Mini-Barbie are together? Disappointment sinks through her. She doesn’t do well in competitions, but maybe she’d like to be in this one.
    Moony’s thick, boyish hair falls over his dark brows, emitting waves of limey shampoo scent, as he rifles through his locker. He’s hot. If it weren’t for getting smashed up he would be godlike. She wants to hold hands with him .
    No, that’s silly. She doesn’t even know him, and he is disabled, she reminds herself.
    So is she.
    She’s pinching herself painfully and stops. Maybe she does want to be in this competition. Raw, aching fear stabs her at the realization. Fear of the inevitable. Fear of failure.
    “Well, see you,” she says, hugging her backpack.
    Moony asks, “Come to tryouts tomorrow afternoon?”
    “Oh. That.”
    “ Really need techies and crew.”
    “When’s the show?”
    “April.”
    “I won’t be here.”
    “You won’t?” He frowns.
    “Um, I mean at PAIS. Not the world in general.” She clears her throat. His left eyebrow rises. “I finish at the end of this semester.”
    “In a month?”
    “Technically, I’ll have enough credits to graduate.”
    He shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter. Help ’til then.”
    She lets out a sigh. “I’ll think about it.”
    Moony struggles to pull a huge book from his locker, but it slams to the floor. She lunges to retrieve it, then hands it to him, smiling. His jaw is tight and his eyes flash furiously.
    “What?” Her stomach drops. “You’re welcome!”
    “Don’t. Need. Help.”
    “Do I look like a flipping elf?” she asks loudly. “Jesus, next time I’ll punt it down the hall for you. You just asked me for help with the stupid play!”
    “Fine, Back.”
    “Watch it, gimp.”
    His eyes go wide and he covers his open mouth. Then a laugh explodes from deep within him.
    Summer joins in. They laugh so hard, kids rushing to class give them worried looks and a wide berth.

NINE
    That evening, Summer unlocks the front door to the apartment and grins. She’s thinking of Moony’s handsome face and hearing his deep laugh when she said she’d punt his book. Even though he only has one good hand to hold, and he’s a tad touchy, she’d like to hang with him more.
    Mom stands in the gilt and marble foyer. Shoot. Summer was really hoping they’d avoid each other. She swallows.
    “Hi, darling. I’m just heading out.” She’s wearing an ice-blue dress and low-heeled black pumps.
    Like the one on the tracks.
    Summer crosses her arms as the dog barks at her. “Hi, Mom. What’s up?” After Dad died, Mom moved here and Summer went to boarding school in the US. She hasn’t lived with Mom since she was thirteen, and spends most school breaks with Aunt Liz.
    But here they are. Mom’s dyed blond hair is bigger than normal, swallowing her bony face.
    “Oh, hush, Camus,” says Mom.
    The little dog circles Summer, barking like mad. With one or two exceptions, they’ve pretty much ignored each other since Summer arrived, but he must be taking a stand as the contested object of their affection is finally between them.
    “So antisocial,” says Mom. “Chihuahuas are one-person dogs. I guess that one person is me, isn’t it, sweetie? Come here, Mu-mu. You are such a good guard dog.” She picks him up and kisses him on the snout.
    “Ewww. Mom, please.” Camus resembles a long-haired rat, with a My Little Pony tail. Summer offers him the back of her hand to sniff. He barks once to prove he’s no pushover, then sniffs.
    “I’m family. Your sister,” she says. “No guarding necessary.” They