Veined (A Guardian of the Angels Novel) Read Online Free PDF Page A

was only due to luck (we had gymnastics). It was great to get back onto the beam and horse again, even if the stuff we’d done in class was too simple for my liking.
    I crossed my fingers the cafeteria offered something appetizing for lunch. Severe disappointment. The best thing on today’s menu was rice pudding. I scanned the room, looking for any sign of tartan.
    “Maddy,” I mumbled, as if it would help me locate her.
    “Is that who you’re looking for? And here’s to hoping you were looking for me.” Jason stood next to me, smiling. “She always sits by the window, I’ll lead the way.” For the second time that day, I followed him.
    Maddy was looking from me, to Jason, to me again as we approached, her eyebrows wiggling. Trying to ignore her, I placed my tray next to hers and faced Jason. “Thanks.” He shrugged, as if it were no big deal. “Hope to see you around.” The words fell naturally from me.
    He leaned closer and my heart quickened. “Yeah, so do I.”
    When Jason was out of view, Maddy let out a low whistle. “Wait till Marcus hears about this. He’ll hate you.”
    Before I could ask why, the lanky blonde I’d seen in the office earlier dropped his tray with a thud opposite us. He gave me a fleeting glance before focusing on Maddy. When he spoke his eyes lit up. “There’s a new guy in the office signing up to start school on Monday and Oh. My. Goodness. Is he the sexiest thing alive.”
    “That’s a real good thing,” Maddy said, her ‘r’ rolling. “Because it looks like Jason’s soon to be accounted for.”
    “What?” Marcus and I said at the same time, although mine was a question and his was pure outrage. This time he really looked at me, his head shaking. I wasn’t sure just how much of it I should take seriously, but after he’d finished scowling, he grinned and extended his arm toward me. “I’m Marcus.”
    I gripped his hand a degree firmer than polite, but like he did, I eventually grinned. “And I’m your competition. But you can call me Sylva.”
    “I like you.” He laughed and leaned over to Maddy. “You seriously have good taste in friends. Example A.” He pointed to himself, then brushed a finger at me. “And B. And so you know,” he was back to scowling at me, “there’s no competition, only a technicality - we bat for different teams.”
    Maddy tucked her short brown hair behind her ears and opened a yoghurt. “What’re the chances that fresh meat bats your way?”
    Marcus theatrically clutched his heart, “He’s a heartbreaker. Absolutely charming. Hard to resist. But I’ve already seen him chat up a couple of girls. So we’re up two girls and zero guys.”
    I shook my head. “Too many girls.”
    “I’d say,” Marcus agreed.
     

     
    On the way home from school, there was n’t much traffic on the streets. Only one car beeped rudely as they passed. I didn’t care, I wasn’t going any faster than fifteen miles in these low clouds and wet streets.
    And since the stupid CD player wouldn’t work, I hummed a tune to myself, tapping my fingers against the steering wheel. School hadn’t been anywhere near as bad as I’d thought it would be. And it had helped me keep my thoughts from roaming to Shirley. Both Maddy and Marcus were great. And Jason seemed nice, too.
    I chewed on my bottom lip, concentrating on the few feet of road in front of me. Where was I? I knew I had to go right, down one of these streets, but which one?
    I squinted at the next street sign. A flash of red caught my eye. My gaze followed it as it disappeared into the thick white. I lurched forward, the seatbelt whipping against my chest. The engine cut. I’d hit a curb. You’ve got to be kidding me.
    I needed a new car. New luck.
    I went to restart the engine when heavy drops showered the roof of my car. It couldn’t be rain, there was nothing hitting my windshield. Probably just dew dripping from a tree.
    Another movement. This time in the passenger mirror. Holding my