Storm and Stone Read Online Free PDF

foyer.
    ‘Oh my gosh: they are fa-bu-lous!’ exclaimed Mairi, a girl in her dance class, blessed with an abundance of freckles and frothy auburn hair. ‘Did you see them?’
    ‘You mean Mr Hottie McTottie and Mr Scorching Tightbuns? You could hardly miss them. What can I say but wow!’ laughed her friend, Liza. I’m with you there, sister. ‘They’ve just joined Westron. Hedda said they were expelled from their old school.’
    Mairi grinned. ‘Even better. I just love bad boys.’
    ‘Me too. I wouldn’t mind helping them settle in, if you know what I mean.’ Liza waggled her eyebrows, still giggling.
    ‘Raven had a go.’
    ‘She’s quicker off the mark than the rest of us.’
    ‘Looks like she crashed and burned with them though.’ They were passing out of earshot, not having noticed their eavesdropper behind the potted cheese plant.
    ‘Leaves the field clear for the rest of us, doesn’t it? So, what do you think about the rumours about her? True?’
    Raven didn’t get to hear the answer but it was horrible to know that even girls she had once thought of as friends were questioning her character. She didn’t have long to brood as the two new boys emerged from the hall. Yep, her first impressions had been right: they were both gorgeous. Joe was more instantly appealing, perhaps, but there was something about Kieran that made her want to look at him again. And again. She lifted the paper higher.
    ‘So how would you do it?’ Joe was asking. ‘Dispose of the evidence?’
    ‘It’s harder than you think.’
    ‘I get that.’
    ‘And you’ll only find out if I decide you have a need to know.’
    ‘Like when you are using it on me?’
    ‘Correct. So tread carefully, my friend.’
    Joe shook his head. ‘I think it’s too late for that. I’d better make a will.’
    Odd conversation. Raven put down the paper and watched them walk away. The view was mighty fine. It was like spotting two big cats prowling a jungle, moving sinuously through the undergrowth. OK, OK, Raven, enough hanging about eyeing up the new guys. Kieran had already demonstrated in a fairly insulting manner that he only looked at her twice to dissect her character and habits. She would be better off working out how to beat down the rumours about her stealing rather than languishing after him. Her past made her shy around boys; she usually dealt with her attraction to guys by turning her sassy attitude on full. Best to put a distance between herself and Kieran so she didn’t embarrass herself. That shouldn’t be too hard; she couldn’t imagine they’d share any classes. Kieran didn’t seem the type to go for arts.
     
    ‘As you know by now, most of your marks will go on the assessment of your final dance piece and your written interpretation.’ Miss Hollis, the dance teacher, flexed her arms above her head, rolling her neck muscles to loosen up.
    Raven couldn’t believe it: Kieran was in her class. He had come in late and sat on the floor near her, stretching long legs crossed at the ankles before him. He studiously ignored the excited whispers of the girls around him, looking as if he would prefer to be anywhere else than here.
    ‘The exams are coming up fast and we have a new member of our AS set to fit in. Girls, this is Kieran Storm whose been doing the subject at his old school. We’ll need to reorganize our groups. So, Kieran, what style do you prefer? Ballet, jazz or modern?’
    Did he really just mutter: I’d prefer to be sticking sharp objects in my eyeballs? Raven gave him a querying look. What on earth was he doing here? He was the most reluctant convert to dance she had ever seen.
    ‘Kieran?’ repeated Miss Hollis.
    ‘Modern.’
    ‘OK, we have two groups doing that. Liza, Mairi and Rachel, and Gina and Raven.’ The teacher glanced round the twenty girls gathered at the front of the room. ‘Raven, where’s Gina?’
    ‘She’s not back yet, miss.’ Phew: bullet dodged. She wouldn’t have Kieran dumped on