Blue Moon (Book One in The Blue Crystal Trilogy) Read Online Free Page A

on
you.”
    “Oh, you get used to it,”
Violet answered glibly. “Every house has them over there.”
    “Did you go to school?” I
asked.
    “No,” she answered, “there was
a school for foreigners, until it closed down. Then my mother
arranged home schooling for us. It was okay, just a bit boring with
only Theo for company. ”
    “What’s Theo like?” I ventured
to ask.
    “Well, he looks like me, said
Violet. “Blond hair, blue eyes, although taller. Put it this way,
he never has a problem attracting women. Not that he’ll be
interested in the girls here. It’ll take a very special girl to
catch Theo’s eye.”
    My interest was aroused
immediately, although I doubted very much he’d notice me. For a
start, he was two years older and I guessed a lot more
sophisticated. He was obviously very handsome and while I was
passably pretty, I could never be described as beautiful, certainly
not in Violet’s league. Nonetheless, I was intrigued and couldn’t
wait to meet him or, as was more likely, admire him from afar.
    “Have you moved in to Hartswell
Hall?” I asked Violet. “It’s just no-one’s mentioned a family
living there and turning it into a luxury hotel. Only this morning,
I heard a rumour that a local rock star was interested in buying
it.”
    “We’re in the process of moving
in,” explained Violet. “The sale has just gone through and there’s
a lot of work to be done on the house and grounds before we can
open it as an hotel.”
    “It sounds very exciting,” I
said. “I’ve only ever seen Hartswell Hall from the outside, but it
looks like a fabulous place.”
    “You must come round and have a
look.…” Violet started to say, then hesitated. “Well, I’ll have to
check with my mother and father first. I’m not sure they want
people seeing inside until all the work’s done. It’s a bit of a
mess at the moment.”
    The bell for the next lesson
sounded and any thoughts of looking round Hartswell Hall were put
to one side, as we made our way to History, with the world’s most
boring teacher, Mr Greaves. I sat next to Tash, who muttered:
“Enjoy break time with Blondie?” before studiously reading her
History course book for the entire lesson, in a way that was most
unlike her.
    At the end of the lesson, she
gathered up her books and disappeared through the classroom door
before I’d even realised she was gone. I saw her walking down the
corridor with Seth, heading for the cafeteria, and was aware that
there had been a major and unpleasant shift in our friendship. It
didn’t make me feel good, but I had no time to dwell on it, because
Violet was there at my elbow, smiling her radiant smile and asking
if I’d like to have an early lunch. Being in her company was like
bathing in brilliant sunshine. It made me feel alive, relaxed and
energised all at the same time, and I was soon engrossed in her
stories of Egypt and a lifestyle I could only imagine.
     
    That afternoon, we shared the
same classes and she sat next to me on the bus home. I vaguely
noticed Tash sitting with Seth towards the back of the bus, but
Violet pulled me into a seat at the front.
    “Come on, let’s sit here,” she
said. I sat where she indicated, feeling as if the situation was
out of my control.
    “Where’s your brother?” I
asked. “Wasn’t he at college?”
    “No, he couldn’t come today,”
she answered. “He’ll start tomorrow. You’ll probably meet him.”
    When the bus stopped outside
Hartswell Hall, Violet got up and flashed another of her radiant
smiles. “My stop. I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye.”
    I watched her walk up the drive
way, a jacket thrown nonchalantly over her arm, her beautiful
golden hair catching the afternoon sunshine. She seemed to shimmer,
barely disturbing the air as she moved, and as the bus started up
again, I felt strangely dreamlike and serene.
    My stop was next and I was
barely aware of Tash and Seth walking past me down the centre
aisle. As he passed, Seth turned to