Gray (Awakening Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

scorn.
    “Interviews?”
    London smiled so hugely it looked like it would hurt her cheeks. “Everybody wants to hear from you, Shayla. Everybody wants to know your story. Didn’t you know that, sweetie?” She spoke to me in the same way she would if I was a slow witted toddler.
    “Why would anybody care?” I asked, baffled by the idea.
    “Oh, you poor thing. You must be so confused by everything,” she cooed at me. A group of guys walked past us and when they did, her smile changed to something seductive. She set her hand on her hip and thrust out her chest like a male frigatebird in mating season. “Be sure and get her something nice, Kassia, something that brings out those pretty eyes and distracts from how pale and skinny she is,” she said in a way which was most definitely meant to make the guys look at her.
    Kassia looked like her teeth might be clamped on her tongue, but in a move almost like one she would have made years before, she patted the top of my head and made kissy noises. “My poor Shayla and her delicate beauty. You sweet little lamb,” she mocked, her tone sharp as a blade.
    I broke in before London could retaliate, which it was clear as day my sister would consider an act of war. “I was actually planning on getting some clothes for school. I have nothing other than Kassia’s clothes at this point.” I did all in my power to look unbothered by her.
    “School? Oh do they have you in some special needs classes?” she asked loudly, her smile razor sharp.
    I did my best not to sneer at her, but shrugged as though nothing had ever gone wrong for me in the entirety of my life. “The only need I specially have is patience to make it through a day inside.”
    “Oh we just hope you’ll be able to remember where you are, sweetie.” 
    Wow. The girl was even meaner than I had remembered.
    The way she looked at me, it was completely obvious she was thrilled by how pale and malnourished I was. It was clear to both of us that I would be no competition for the attention of guys.
    A twinge of nervousness passed over me as the other girls looked at me in the same way. It was altogether clear what they would be like at school.
    I wanted to leave, ask Kassia to get in the car and drive away with me. We could stop in a new place where there was no past, no memories of the days when everything had been charmed.
    But normal was what I had wanted. What was more normal than a nasty high school girl?
    An image came into my mind of the guy I had dreamed about the night before, with white skin, dark hair and a spear of Odin tattooed on his forehead. He stood with his hand held out in front of him and smiled as he made the pile of stones around us dance like magic. I didn’t believe in magic, but that image was such a nice one. That guy from my dreams hadn’t looked at me like I was plain and skinny like London did. He looked at me like I was beautiful.
    Another image came into my mind of London with water dripping from her nostrils. That amused me. It seemed like the perfect way to take her ego down a notch or two. The weird thing was though, the second the thought came into my mind, she sniffed, then flushed a bright red when water started to drip out of her nose.
    I jerked. My breath came out in short, sharp gasps. Had I done that? I could feel the water, feel its delight in doing something for me, but it was the air which called to me. It wanted to help as well.
    No. There was no way. I did not believe in magic. That was ridiculous. London’s little issue was just karma or something. It had to be.
    My sister grinned a little nastily, though not quite derisive. Huh. Kassia must have changed a lot more than I had thought.
    I gasped and turned my eyes away from London. I didn’t listen to her as she quickly said goodbye and walked away with her hands over her face.
    I gasped again. The water called to me, asked me if it could do more. That was crazy. I must be off my meds. Where had I been for eight years?