Angel Kiss Read Online Free Page A

artist. She said she wouldn’t be seen dead going to such a nerdfest. But Hannah wasn’t here now, and I really needed to make some new friends.
    ‘Yeah, I read a lot of Manga,’ said Colin, ‘so I like drawing that sort of stuff. Anything Japanese really fascinates me.’
    ‘How do you do it?’ I asked. ‘Do you use a computer?’
    ‘First I make a sketch,’ he said, sitting up a little bit straighter, ‘then scan it on to my laptop. Then I either work on it digitally, or print it off and use ink and watercolours. That’s what I was doing today, before dinner. I just finished one off.’ It seemed that Colin could be quite talkative once he was concentrating on a topic that interested him.
    ‘Can I see it?’ I said.
    He hesitated for a moment but then got up from his armchair and lowered the brass handles of the doors that separated usfrom the next room. Then he pushed them open to reveal possibly the coolest bedroom I’ve ever seen.
    ‘This is your room?’ I said in awe.
    ‘Yep,’ said Colin, clearing a path through the chaos of clothes and comics on the floor. ‘One summer Mam wanted to use my old bedroom for some guests so I got shoved in here. I really like it so I convinced her to let me keep it.’
    Colin’s bedroom was really big, just slightly smaller than the sitting room. The walls were covered in various Japanese film posters. I recognized Akira and Spirited Away . Computer games and DVDs were stacked beside a TV along with an assortment of anime figures. There were a couple of plates and glasses on the floor. The blue duvet cover was crumpled up at the foot of the bed and a noticeboard hung over the headboard with tons of stuff pinned to it – sketches, magazine clippings, ticket stubs. The computer desk was littered with pens, pencils and discarded pieces of paper. I followed Colin through the mess to the back corner of the room. A wooden easel stood there, holding a recently completed project. It was of a girl with jet-black hair and blood-red lips. Her head was bowed and a single red tear, like a drop of blood, stained her white cheek. The overall effect was striking, and I
was captivated by it.
    ‘It’s incredible,’ I said. ‘You’re really talented.’
    I couldn’t take my eyes off it.
    ‘Thanks,’ he said, blushing slightly.
    ‘Is she based on anyone you know?’ I asked, as I took in all the detail.
    ‘No, she just sort of appeared in my head.’
    I knew what Colin meant. Sometimes ideas for songs just popped into my head, and I had no idea where they came from.
    ‘Are you going to do art in college?’ I asked, still fascinated by his painting.
    ‘Hopefully,’ said Colin, flopping down on the swivel chair at his desk. ‘I’d really like to study in New York. What do you want to do in college?’ He had this intense look when he asked questions, like he was really interested in what I had to say. His initial shyness seemed to have vanished, and I felt relaxed in his company.
    ‘Music, I suppose. All I really want to do is sing and play guitar. But I’ve got another three years before I have to think about college. I was actually hoping to work on a demo this year …’
    I surprised myself by telling him that. Maybe Colin would turn out to be one of those people you could share your secrets with. I was even beginning to wonder if I could fancy him.
    ‘I can’t wait to finish school,’ he said. ‘It’s so boring sometimes. Anyway, wanna go back and watch TV?’
    I couldn’t help looking longingly at his computer. I was having serious withdrawal symptoms.
    ‘Em … would you mind if I used your computer for a few minutes? We don’t have Internet in the caravan and I’d love to just check my messages …’
    ‘Sure. Knock yourself out,’ he said, pushing some rubbish off the keyboard.
    I sat at his desk and logged on while Colin lay down on his bed and picked up a book.
    Fifteen messages. The first was from Hannah wondering how I was. The next five were