Twisted Dreams Read Online Free PDF Page B

liar.
    I scooped up my notepad and pen and smiled brightly at him. “Well, I think I’ve got everything. Thanks so much for making things easy for me.”
    A trace of confusion rippled across his handsome features, but he didn’t argue with me. “Okay, no problem.” We both stood, and he held out his hand to me, the gesture I’d been trying to avoid this whole time. I hesitated, trying to figure out which would be worse, seeing something secret to him or being rude enough to ignore the handshake. A flash of inspiration hit me and I held out my pen.
    “This is Dana’s. If you see her, could you give it back?”
    Again, I’d thrown him, but his fingers closed around the pen. “Uh, sure.”
    “Thanks so much. See you around, I guess.”
    “I guess.”
    I left him standing there, holding my pen. I walked away, trying to keep my pace even and not break into the run my legs seemed determined to do.

 
    Chapter
     
    5
     
     
    I got back to my room to discover Brooke had made a couple of friends. The three girls sat on Brooke’s bed, their heads together as they giggled and gossiped. They didn’t even notice my entrance, and I sidled over to my side of the room, hoping things would stay that way.
    They didn’t.
    Brooke spotted me. “Oh, hey.” Then she turned back to her new friends, “This is my roommate, Beth.”
    The two girls each lifted a hand in a wave. “Kayla,” introduced the dark-haired girl with the coffee colored skin.
    “I’m Erin,” added the other girl, a brunette, like me.
    “We’re going out tonight, if you wanna come.” said Kayla. “Every year, a carnival comes to town right at the same time the new intake starts. It’s kinda traditional for everyone to go down on the first night. You up for it?”
    I wondered why Flynn hadn’t mentioned something, but shrugged it off. He obviously had better things to do than hang around with a fresher. “Sure, sounds fun.”
    Brooke smiled, but it was what I’d started to think was her usual ‘fake’ smile. I had the feeling I didn’t exactly fit in with what she was looking for, friend-wise. Both girls currently sitting on her bed wore immaculate makeup, complete with skinny jeans and strappy cami-tops. I’d change into jeans before that evening, but I’d have to make a judgment call on the length of my sleeves, something that had nothing to do with the temperature outside.
    “Well, we’ll be leaving in less than an hour,” said Brooke. “So if you want to come, you should probably get ready.”
    My stomach twisted with a sickening sensation. I knew she was making a point about my scruffy appearance, that she didn’t want to be seen with me looking like a street urchin. Part of me wanted to tell her to screw it, and that I’d go on my own, looking however I wanted. But the other part of me desperately wanted to fit in. I’d spent so much of my time in Los Angeles without a real social group to speak of. I didn’t want to be an outsider here, too.
    “No worries.” I gave her a tight smile. “I was just going to take a shower now. I had a long drive, you know?”
    One side of her mouth turned up in a smile, but it didn’t reach her light blue eyes. “Okay. Later then.” And she ducked her head back down to continue to gossip with her friends.
    I gave a sigh and opened my bag to fish out my wash bag, towel, and a change of clothes. I headed down to the showers, hoping I’d find the place empty. I didn’t want to risk bumping into anyone else when I was anything less than fully dressed.
    My luck was in on this occasion. The bathroom was empty.
    Quickly, I stripped off my sweats and stepped into one of the stalls. A fiddle with the faucet sent a gurgle up the pipes, and a moment later cold water drenched down on top of my head. I bit down on a shriek at the chill of the water and forced myself to stand beneath it until the temperature warmed up.
    I soaped my hair and body, letting the water wash away the grime of my journey.
    My