The Awakener Read Online Free PDF Page A

talking to you too.”
    “He’s teasing me, making fun of me. I’m pretty sure that means he does not like me.”
    “Whatever, I know what I see —”
    Jessie’s words were cut off by Eden’s mom hollering . “Eden, phone’s for you.”
    Eden jumped up off the floor, her own math book falling from her lap, and ran to the door. Her mom met her in the hall, handing her the cordless phone.
    “Hello,” she said, returning to her bedroom, where Jessie was off the bed, peering at herself in the mirror, fiddling with her red curls.
    “Hey, what’s up?”
    Eden instantly knew the voice; it was one she longed to hear almost daily now.
    “Nothing. How ‘bout you?” she answered, trying to ignore Jessie mouthing the words who is it over and over.
    “Not much. Just getting everything ready, you know.”
    “Yeah, bet you’re excited , right?”
    Micah sighed . “I guess. Hey, can you come over?”
    She swallowed. “Sure.”
    “I’m leaving pretty early in the morning, and… well, I’d like to say good-bye.”
    She struggled to keep her voice even with the lump lodged in her throat. “Ok, yeah, me too.”
    Jessie was now throwing her hands up. “Eden, who the heck is it—?”
    “I can come get you if you want,” Micah offered.
    Eden waved her hand at her friend to be quiet as she said, “Ok, thanks.”
    “See you in ten.” He hung up and Eden stared at the receiver.
    Jessie’s hands were on her hips. “So?”
    “It was Micah. Guess it’s time to say good-bye.”
    “Oh well, good riddance if you ask me.”
    “Jessie, Micah’s my—”
    “Best friend, yeah, I know. But the dude’s popular and cocky.”
    “Micah’s not cocky.”
    “Ok, well , maybe he’s not, but all his friends are stuck up. And don’t even get me started on his girlfriend, ugh, gag me.”
    Eden smiled, agreeing full-heartedly with Jessie on that point.
    “I just don’t want you to get hurt, Eden,” Jessie sighed. “Micah’s not like us. And I know how you feel about him.” Jessie cut off Eden’s protests, “Don’t even try to deny it, I can totally tell you like him. Just remember, Micah thinks of you as a friend, nothing more. He’s got a girlfriend, Megan, the biggest—”
    “Trust me, I know where I stand with Micah. And we are just friends, anyway.”
    “Ok.” Jessie grinned, raising an eyebrow. “Now Andrew, on the other hand…”

Eden was not happy to be home alone waiting. Jessie left soon after the phone call, her dad was working late, and her mom had taken Brendon and his friends bowling. Since seeing the woman at Micah’s house, she jumped at shadows, turned on lights in every room, peeked under beds, behind shower curtains, and in closets just to make sure.
    What was strange to her was how easily she fell asleep at night. It was like a calming blanket wrapped around her, leaving her feeling safe and relaxed. She’d never felt anything like it before.
    The living room darkened as the sun went behind the clouds. She hurried to the light switch, flipping it on.
    There, that’s better.
    Spying a novel she’d left on the end table, she moved to grab it, and heard a resounding thump upstairs. She froze. Is it another ghost?
    Eyes searching the room, she remained planted, terrified to move. The blood pounded in her ears, making it hard to hear.
    Just the house settling, nothing’s going to happen, she reassured herself.
    There was a firm knock and she sprinted for the front door, throwing it open.
    Micah filled the doorframe. “Hey, ready to go?”
    “Yep .” She practically shoved him out of the way, trying to escape.
    He stepped back. “Well, ok then.”
    Once inside his Ford F-350, she finally felt safe. She ignored the nagging fact she’d only seen the supernatural while with Micah. Seeing a ghost without him would be way worse.
    He threw the truck into reverse, pulling out of the parking lot. He was quiet as they drove.
    She peeked over. He turned, their eyes meeting briefly. She glanced