The 13th: Frozen Destiny Read Online Free Page A

might sound far-fetched, but what if it was some sort of medical experiment?”
    “Are we the only ones who have these reality and memory problems?”
    “Mandy could have them, too.”
    “That doesn’t mean anything.”
    “You don't know that.”
    “No, I don’t know that, and neither do you. The other thing, have you noticed --” The cut between his eyebrows smoothed out and a smile like a sun lighted his face. “We'll talk about it later,” he said to her and stood.
    Claire followed his gaze and saw Kate coming their way. Her eyes returned to Ryan's face and at the look of pure love that shone from his eyes suddenly a pang of jealousy burned through her. That was how Ethan used to look at her. While now -- she turned toward the playground -- he barely even glanced at her. And when she mentioned anything about it, he tried to blame her bad health. Maybe he really had fallen out of love.
    She waited until the end of the game and then joined Mandy, who rushed toward the boys. Mandy launched herself at Tyler and got a half-hug in return, while Claire only brushed Ethan's shoulder to let him know she was there.
    Ethan's eyes as they turned to her were dull and without any spark.
    She inwardly sighed and forced her mouth into a smile while her fingers curled around the edge of her shirt, wrinkling it. “You played well.”
    “I guess.” He shrugged his shoulders.
    “We are going to the common,” Tyler said to them, ‘the common’ meaning the lounge part of the main hall.
    “Yeah.” Ethan nodded. “I'll join you later.” He waved to them before he turned and walked toward the south side of the building.
    Claire rushed after him. “Where are you going?”
    “To the teachers’ chambers. I have an errand that I need to run. For that project.”
    “Do you need help?” She drew up parallel with him.
    “No.”
    “Do you have some time later?” She had rarely asked for his time before or been the one to invite him on a date, since she had never had to; he was always the one who initiated those. He had spoiled her quite a lot in that regard.
    “What for?”
    “To have dinner with me. Just the two of us.”
    “I'm not certain I'll be able to make it.” He stared straight ahead, not even giving her a glance, and quickened his stride.
    She grabbed his arm. “What's going on?”
    “I don't know what you mean.” He half-turned, and she expected that he would face her, but his eyes darted around.
    Her jaw clenched and her teeth cut into her lower lip before she loosened her jaw with a sigh. She hated this... this evading and sneaking around. “If you don't want to be with me anymore, tell me.”
    He scowled and tilted his head down. A wayward strand of hair fell on his brow.
    She automatically lifted her hand, as so many times before, to tug on it. She caught herself and her arm fell to her side. “I love you, and breaking up...” Her throat contracted and she had to clear it as pain cut through her like a poorly sharpened knife. She felt as if the distance between them widened with each passing day and she didn't know what to do to stop it. She knew she loved him, and as much as a break-up would have shattered her into small pieces, she didn't want him to force himself to be with her.
    He lifted his head, his cold eyes -- when had they become so cold? -- bored into her. “I don't want to break up with you.”
    “Then why... Why are you shutting me out? Why are we so rarely alone and why don’t you ever...” …kiss me? She had to clear her throat again. “You don't even hold my hand anymore. I feel like we are not a couple anymore, only distant friends.”
    “A teacher asked me for a help on a project for extra credit, that's why I don't have time for you. I told you that.” He shook his head at her, disapproval written all over his face. “You are so insecure and demanding, you are making a big deal out of nothing.”
    Because he didn’t look at her the same way he used to do and because... The