Rua (Rua, book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

whole “seeing things” problem she had. She dumped her coffee in the sink and went to her room to get ready for school.
    A couple hours later, Celeste waited in her driveway for Tink.
    He pulled up with a big wave out his open window. “Good morning!” he shouted over the sounds of his radio.
    She gave him her best imitation non-crazy person smile. “Morning.” She climbed into the passenger seat.
    “You okay? What did the doctor say?”
    “Doc said it was just a freak thing. Won’t happen again. I’m fine.”
    He tapped his steering wheel with his long fingers. “Sure, that’s perfectly normal. Right.” He took one hand off the wheel to flick her leg. “Sarcasm intended, by the way.”
    “Sarcasm received and noted. I’m fine. Where’s my protein you alluded to in your text?”
    “Why, I thought you would never ask.” He pulled a plastic container from under his seat.
    She opened it, and examined the sloppy, but nice smelling, burrito-looking thing inside. She sniffed it. “Smells awesome.”
    He smiled. “It is awesome, and it’s a protein bomb. High protein/low carb tortilla, one cup of egg whites, cheese, and tiny pieces of turkey bacon. It’s protein mixed with protein wrapped in protein. And,”—he pointed to a travel mug nudged in the cup holder against her thigh—“that is high protein soy milk.”
    “Thanks. That’s the nicest thing a boy has ever done for me.”
    “I know and I’m not even trying to get into your pants.” His smile stretched broader across his face. “Eat up. No more fainting today. Rylan can’t always be around to pick you up.”
    She blushed, but said nothing more. Instead, she shoved the protein bomb in her face, which turned out to taste as good as it smelled.
    He backed out of the driveway and began their short journey to school.
    “Sooo…” he started, “You are totally the talk of the town.”
    “Oh, crap. I don’t want to be. I really don’t.”
    “Well you are. Talking to Rylan and falling in the most popular girl's yard on your first day, which she told everyone about, by the way. Passing out and leaving early on your second day, becoming besties with the gay kid. You are a bona fida gossip machine.”
    “Well, there goes my blending-in plan.”
    “Yeah, there goes.” He parked the car. “Shall we?”
    “Yup.” She sped up her pace to match his long-legged gait across the parking lot. As she walked, the air became tighter, hotter.
    Rylan had silently fallen into step with her. She elbowed Tink, but he was already staring.
    “Hi,” she said.
    Rylan didn’t look at her, but he did speak. “I’m sorry.” He was still looking forward, face partially hidden by his hair.
    She stopped walking. “What?”
    He stopped too, but his eyes focused on the school building ahead. “I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
    “Um, what?” she said.
    “Are you okay?”
    “Yes.”
    Without another word, he walked away.
    “What was that all about?” Tink asked.
    “Nothing.”
    “What did he say?”
    “He asked if I was okay, then he walked off.”
    “That’s it?” He nudged her with his arm to get her moving again.
    “Yep.”
    “Hmm.” He followed her to her locker. “That’s kind of odd, you know?”
    “You’re telling me.” She loaded her first-period book into her backpack.
    Tink glanced over her head. “Oh. My. God.”
    “What?” She followed his gaze.
    It was Rylan and Jennifer. He leaned on a bank of lockers, inches away from her face. He was whispering, smiling, and flirting. Jennifer saw Celeste watching, gave her the nastiest look ever known to mankind then reached toward Rylan, running her finger down his face.
    Jealousy hit Celeste hard and fast. Hot tears poked behind her eyes and she knew her face had flushed deep red.
    She tore her eyes away and focused on neatly stacking her books in the bottom of the locker. The few seconds she leaned into the narrow space gave her the time she needed to rearrange her facial expression from