Soul Crossed Read Online Free

us, but I can still reach her.
    “I’ve got to get to class. English Lit with Mr. Baner.” She stands, but announces her next class like she’s hoping we’ll say we’re in it, too.
    “You mean Mr. Banal?” I ask. She smiles, clearly impressed that I have a brain and a bod. Yeah, in my dad’s few sober moments he used to tell me I could really be something if I’d only apply myself more. Well, joke’s on him, I guess, because I sure feel like something
now
.
    “I have chemistry with Mr. H-H-Holmes.”
No one cares, Cam
.
    “Sorry, Grace. I’ve got chem, too.” She seems uncertain, like she’s afraid to leave us alone, but she smiles again and says good-bye.
    “So, Cam,” I say, leaning back in the chair with one leg propped on the table. “Tell me more about yourself.” It’s what I’m supposed to say. The Boss says it’s a guaranteed in. People love to talk about themselves.
    “M-m-me?” he asks with those suspicious eyes again. I drop my feet to the floor and lean forward to show how interested I am—
not
. “W-w-well, I live with my mom. We just moved here from Chicago.” He takes a bite of his hamburger like that’s the end of the story.
    “Wow. That’s a big move. How do you like Michigan so far?”
    “It’s OK. I thought it would b-b-be pretty much the same. But p-p-people here seem…n-n-nicer.” He smiles after Grace, who’s long gone by now.
    “She is pretty hot, isn’t she?” I say, leaning in. I can feel the lust emanate from him like a beacon. It’s one of those new things I have to get used to. “Strong desires can lead to misdeeds,” or so Lucifer says.
    “I g-g-guess you’ll probably ask h-h-her out, huh?” he looks crestfallen. Can’t blame him. He’s no competition for someone like me. But as much as it pains me, I’m not here to get it on with the leggy blonde. Man, why can’t I corrupt
her
soul?
    “Naw. Not if you’re interested. Did you see the way she looked at you?” He peers up from beneath his stringy bangs, surprise written all over his face.
    “M-m-me?” he asks again.
    “Dude, you had to have seen it.” He looks uncertain. “I bet you’ve missed some serious signs from behind that hair of yours.”
    He reaches up and hesitantly brushes his hair back from his face. Not bad. It’s something to work with, at least. I smile to encourage him.
    “You really think so?” he asks. Man, he’d be easy to crush.
    “Yeah. Didn’t you have a girlfriend in Chicago?” I ask.
    “N-n-no.” He mashes a fist into his thigh where he thinks I can’t see it. Clearly he’s been burned before by the opposite sex.
    I shake my head like I can’t believe it. “Stick with me, and you’ll see the world in a whole new light,” I say, taking a bite out of my apple.

Chapter 8
Grace
    I run my fingers longingly over the cell. My heart aches to call my mother. To tell her not to worry, that it’s really OK. But I’ve been warned. Miss Alvarez said the phone is for “business calls only,” and that any attempt to contact my family or friends will result in the loss of my “opportunity for eternal glory.” I put it in my pocket. I won’t ruin my reunion with a stupid phone call.
    “Waiting for a text from someone special?”
    I shake my head no.
    Two girls have latched onto me since sixth period Lit. They seem nice enough. Shelby asked about the text. She’s tall with frizzy red hair and freckles. Fatmeh is exotic looking, with dark skin and thick black hair. As Ms. A promised, they assumed I’ve been here at North for a while, just in different classes.
    They’re both big into theater and think I should try out for
Romeo and Juliet
. I politely decline, and when they continue to hang around, I explain that I have to meet someone after school. They follow along like it’s an invitation. Miss Alvarez did warn me that I’d have a certain enhanced magnetism. I wish I liked being the center of attention.
    “Grace!” It’s Josh, waving to me from the