She Smells the Dead Read Online Free PDF Page A

through his hair so bad my hands flexed. I quickly stuffed them into my pockets. Maybe vinegar and wet dog was an aphrodisiac. Who would have suspected ?
    “So do you still want me to pick you up later?” Calvin asked.
    Later ? I was having a total brain freeze. What was later ?
    “To go out to the Green farm?” he asked clarifying and helping my brain resume function.
    “Oh. Yeah. Totally. That would be great,” I stuttered. Smooth one Yuki . Then in one lightening fast move I stepped forward, gave Cal a hug, and ran down the hall to my locker. For once I had left Calvin Miller at a loss for words.

Chapter 9
     
     
    As soon as I dumped my backpack on my bed after school, I grabbed my phone and called Emma. “I have a date for the homecoming dance,” I blurted out before she could say anything. I was so excited it came out all one word. Ihaveadateforthehomecomingdance .
    “I should charge you both counseling fees,” she replied dryly.
    “What?” I exclaimed wondering what she was talking about. Had Calvin called her already?
    “I knew you and Calvin were going to hook up,” she said smugly. “You two are perfect for each other by the way.”
    “Uh, well I’m not sure you could say we’ve hooked up, but we are going to the dance together,” I said wondering what Calvin had said to Emma. Maybe she’d spill if I gave her a few details of my own. “I hugged him!” I blurted.
    “Yeah girl, I know. You nearly put the poor boy into cardiac arrest,” she said starting to laugh. “Is there a reason though why you suddenly changed your mind and had to ask Calvin to the dance while he was in the bathroom? Some secret toilet fetish I should know about?” she asked teasingly.
    Son of a dung beetle . Calvin had talked to her first and I’m sure he didn’t mention that he was crying in the bathroom. So I had asked a guy out to the dance while he was in the bathroom. It sounded weird even to me and I was there .
    “O.k. then All Knowing One, what should I wear? Calvin is picking me up in an hour to go do recon at the Green farm and I have no idea how to dress,” I said starting to worry.
    “Yuki, he likes you for who you are. Just be yourself. You know, wear lots of black and a pair of your big chunky boots. He’ll be swooning.” The last she said dramatically. “Lip gloss,” she added, “You want to look like you--but kissable.”
    With a laugh Emma hung up leaving me staring at my reflection in the mirror and wondering if I even owned lip gloss. I looked down at my hands and decided to touch up my nail polish instead. Maybe he’d want to at least hold my hand .

Chapter 10
     
     
    I ran out to meet Calvin in the driveway as soon as his truck came to a stop. Usually I make him come get me, but I wasn’t quite ready to be alone with him in my bedroom. Things that seemed totally normal yesterday suddenly felt very, very weird. Tingling with excitement, and feeling hopeful that we’d turn up some clues today, I jumped up on the passenger side running board. Calvin was already leaning over to open my door. He stayed leaning towards me as I pulled myself inside the truck. The truck was awash with the wet dog smell again, but I barely noticed. Calvin was looking at me intently through his shaggy bangs. Intense . The word just took on a whole new meaning for me. I’d never been looked at that way before. It was thrilling and just a tiny bit scary. I wanted to check how I looked in the mirror but I didn’t dare break his gaze.
    “Yuki,” he said as I watched his Adam’s apple rise and lower, “would you like to go out with me?”
    His eyes never left my face as I whispered, “Yes.”
    His face lit up with a roguish smile and he lifted my chin with one hand and came so close that his next words moved against my lips, “me too,” he said and kissed me on the lips. I think I’m falling in love with you Calvin Miller .
    Cal was the first to break away and running his hand through his hair he moved back