Double Life - Book 1 of the Vaiya Series Read Online Free Page B

mind?”
    “Uh … not much.” He shifted the focus to his
friend. “Finish sweeping already?”
    “Yeah, but I didn’t do a very good job.”
Sighing, Eddy sank his head towards the ground, a whole barrage of
unpleasant emotions taking their turns on him. Gloom was playing a
symphony on Eddy’s face and depression was the conductor.
    After watching him for a while, uneasiness
growing inside him, Ian broke the silence, bewildered over his
friend’s downcast spirit, something that he rarely witnessed:
“What’s wrong, Eddy?”
    “It’s about Skyler.” His shoulders sagged.
“Ever since the accident he hasn’t said one word to me.” Defeat
seething from his eyes, he continued hesitantly, “In chem class he
wouldn’t even look at me. I only caught his eye once, and that was
when he was gloating over the fact that his group partner, Jason,
was way cooler than either of mine.” He scowled. “And the sad thing
is, even with only one partner, I’d say he’s still come out on top
by a long shot.”
    Ian let his words sink in, before replying,
“That’s horrible, Eddy.” Shaking his head, he frowned
sympathetically, pressing him for more information. “So, how’d he
break his ankle anyway?”
    His quivering lips showed his inner turmoil.
He took a deep breath before beginning: “Well, we were both
skateboarding having a great time, when he told me he wanted to do
a kickflip off the largest ramp. Of course, I told him it was
foolish, but did he listen? No way; he wouldn’t be Skyler if he
did.” Shaking his head in agony, he shrugged stiffly, each movement
appearing to inflict him with the pain of a wasp sting, before
adding with distress, “When he flicked the board with his feet, it
got away from him and he landed on his right ankle.”
    Vultures swooping through his conscience,
Eddy paused. “What am I gonna do, man? He hates me."
    Ian stuffed his hands into his pockets
anxiously, as the coach’s venomous words suddenly replayed in his
mind, seeking to engulf him. With great effort, he tore them out of
his thoughts and refocused on Eddy. “Stop blaming yourself,” he
finally said, an edge of worry in his voice. “Skyler’s just mad he
can’t go to state, so he’s taking it out on you.”
    Eddy devoured his words, taking his statement
a step further. “Mad wouldn’t even begin to describe it. He was a
wolverine.” A small smile crept onto his face. His frown melted
away. “But, yeah, you’re right. I should stop beating myself up.
It’s not my fault he got injured. I mean, I warned him, but he just
didn’t listen.” Reflecting over his own words, Eddy breathed out a
sigh. “I do feel kinda bad for him though.”
    “So do I, but I’m sure he’ll get over
it.”
    “Yeah.” As if Ian’s words were healing
ointment, Eddy soon reverted to his old self, a fine grin now
painted onto his face. “So are you ready for the party or what,
man?”
    Ian heartily welcomed the new topic, a smile
crossing his face at his friend’s quick recovery. “Of course. It’s
gonna be awesome.”
    Eddy drew forth a bottle of gel. “Yeah, I
hear ya. You can’t be prepared too soon.” He squeezed a blob of
white gel onto his short spiky brown hair and ruffled it up, more
for laughs than anything. A few classmates looked their way and
just shook their heads, amused.
    “I guess not.” Ian chuckled. “So do you know
how many are invited?”
    “Yeah. Darien told me she invited over
twenty-five people.” Pausing briefly, he shoved the small bottle of
hair gel back into his pocket and looked at Ian, his eyes
brightening, a smirk creeping onto his face. “And since the party’s
at her house, I imagine most will show up.”
    “Who wouldn’t?” asked Ian rhetorically, as he
glanced at the clock on the wall, checking how much time he had
left until his next class. “Her house is amazing; it’s a
mansion.”
    “Yeah.” He laughed, as he tucked his long,
dangly shoelaces into his sneakers so he