The Evensong Read Online Free PDF Page B

upper arm as she pulled me aside.
    “Finally saw the guy—the one who just moved here,” she said, looking towards the entrance of the building.
    “So did I, we just had a great discussion back there,” I replied.
    She looked at me sharply. “You did? About what?”
    “Walking around the swamps. I guess I’m going with him tomorrow,” I said, suddenly feeling embarrassed.
    Alysana laughed and tried to keep quiet when the cashier looked our way. “Guess there is a perfect guy for you, huh?”
    I kicked her shin lightly as we made our way out. “I didn’t say it was something special. It just kind of happened.”
    “Uh-huh. So what’s his name?”
    I sighed as we stepped out into the rain, which was only a light drizzle now. “I don’t know, I asked but he avoided the question, and I eventually forgot about it.”
    That got Alysana laughing again. “That’s priceless, Riley. I guess he’ll have to stay a stranger till then.”
     

COMING AROUND
    “You’re going walking with the creep, better be careful,” Hunter commented as he drifted by Omar’s room. From the bed, I just shook my head, determined to ignore the slew of jokes coming my way. All evening, everyone in the house was cracking jokes towards me or asking ridiculous questions. They were becoming just like the people in town: gossip fiends.
    “Don’t worry, I’ll bring pepper spray or something,” I called.
    Omar shook his head to himself, laughing slightly. He leaned in close to the paper in front of him, nose almost touching the surface as he strategically smeared pastel.
    “So you didn’t get a name?” he asked. He’d graciously been talking about anything but the events of my afternoon, though I could tell he was just as curious as everyone else.
    “Nope,” I replied. “Go ahead, take a guess at it.”
    “Hm. Dexter.”
    I laughed, thinking it was definitely not fitting of Stranger—the name I preferred to use in my own head.
    “You know, he was in the library earlier for an hour or so,” Omar said, dropping the pastel he held. He sat up straight, stretching his back as he stood. “He didn’t check anything out though.”
    “That’s great, Omar, but I really don’t care,” I replied, flipping the page of the comic I’d been skimming. “Maybe Alysana would want to know. Heck, even Justine.”
    He sighed and sat next to me, putting his hands behind his head. Downstairs, mostly everyone was gathered around the kitchen table doing homework while Alysana tried to make dinner and stay in charge. Rene had left the house earlier and still hadn’t come back. She didn’t said where she was going, which made me suspect she was up to something, but what, I didn’t know.
    “When is your ceremony happening?” Omar asked.
    “So you’ve already forgotten my birthday?” I replied. “You’re not even out of the house and it’s slipped your mind . . .”
    “You know what I mean, am I going to have to take off work to be there?”
    “Oh—yeah, probably. I think it’s happening in the morning,” I replied. He nodded thoughtfully before saying he would arrange it with his boss. He was about to go on when we both heard the front door fling open and slam shut. Rene yelled something, and I stood, not bothering to wait for Omar. I paused at the stairs, just listening. The kitchen had gone quiet, except for Alysana’s soft voice.
    “What happened?” Omar asked quietly, standing behind me. I shrugged wordlessly, going down the stairs.
    Rene was still standing by the door when I stopped at the bottom of the stairs. Her hair was wind-whipped, partially covering her face as she toweled off a little girl’s hair.
    “Another one,” Omar muttered as he walked past me.
    “Alysana,” Rene called towards the kitchen, “put water on the stove, and find a calming tea.”
    I stood where I was, watching as Rene let her coat fall to the floor. The girl looked terrified; her eyes were huge under her wet, tangled hair.
    “Come on, sweet