Supernaturally (Paranormalcy 2)

She blinked. Slowly.

"Kidding. " I flashed her a grimace that I hoped would pass for a smile. "Haven't been sleeping enough. "

"Oh. That's easy. Drink chamomile tea before bed. My mom totally swears by it. "

"Chamomile tea. Will do. " No doubt that would solve all my problems.

"So, about the other day. "

Oh, Jack. We hadn't talked since she backed me up. "Thanks again, by the way. You saved my butt with Miss Lynn. "

"Of course! But who was that guy?"

I rolled my eyes. "A nuisance. "

"Because, well, John and I broke up again, and that guy was pretty cute, and I was thinking maybe-"

"NO!"

Her eyes widened in shock. "I'm sorry, I . . . "

"No, really, I mean, he's kind of crazy, you know? Like, unstable. And he refuses to take his medication. "

"Really? Bummer. Those dimples . . . "

"Totally psychotic!"

She shrugged, smiling as she stood up. "Better get dressed. "

"Green!"

"Too late," Carlee whispered.

Miss Lynn came around the corner of the row of lockers, glaring daggers. No, daggers would be too delicate a weapon for her. Glaring sledgehammers was probably more appropriate.

"What?" I asked with a sigh.

She jerked her thumb toward the door. "Office. "

I stood up, sputtering. "I'm not tardy! I haven't done anything wrong today!"

"Family emergency," she growled. "Get out of here. "

"I-oh. Okay. "

Checked out again? What was Raquel doing? I had the communicator in my bag. She definitely hadn't been trying to get ahold of me in the few hours since I left.

Still, the timing couldn't be better. I threw my gym clothes into the locker and tried to look nervous as I walked past Miss Lynn. Really it was all I could do not to skip. I didn't even care if I was kidnapped again, as long as it got me out of gym.

I threw open the door to the office and stopped in my tracks. No Raquel this time. It was Lend's dad.

Or at least as far as the flirty attendance secretary was concerned, it was my legal guardian, David. She couldn't see straight through the glamour to the clear-as-water-barely-there face of Lend.

He turned and smiled at me with his dad's face, and after a few seconds I was able to replace my shocked expression with what I hoped was a foster-daughterly smile. "Umm, hey. "

"Thanks again, Sheila," Lend-as-David said, smiling at her. I didn't know whether to be jealous, mortified, or amused by her googly-eyed grin.

I walked stiffly next to him out into the parking lot, loving that he was here, wanting nothing more than to throw my arms around him and get the hug I so desperately needed today, but not about to do that when he looked like his dad.