Hair in All The Wrong Places Read Online Free

easy as that,” said the cloaked figure.
    Mr. Emerson stormed away down the alley. “I need to get up to the base. I assume you can find your way home.” It was a statement, not a question, and then he was gone.
    The cloaked stranger turned to walk away and then paused. Turning his hooded head as if looking for something in the dark alley, the stranger suddenly zeroed in on Colin’s hiding spot. Colin held his breath. The stranger didn’t move.
    It seemed like an eternity although barely ten seconds had passed before the stranger turned away slowly and then spoke. “You should go now, Colin Strauss.” The words hung in the air. “Or you will be late.”
    With that, the stranger glided down the alley without making a sound.
    What in the world was that thing?
    He emerged from his hiding place, carefully inspecting the alley. There was no sound, and the fog seemed to be lifting slightly. Whoever the creepy stranger was, he was right; Colin had to get moving. If the town hall meeting was already out, then that meant he was going to have a harder time getting out of town unseen.
    He hurried the rest of the way, constantly checking behind him, afraid the cloaked stranger was following him and would emerge at any moment.
    Or you will be late. Late for what?
    Quietly slipping inside the garage, Colin finally allowed himself to breathe properly after locking the door behind him. His heart was racing, he was covered in sweat, and his nerves were on edge. He felt like he’d run a marathon.
    If the town meeting had been broken up by some sort of urgent situation, then his grandmother would already be on her way home. He had to hurry.
    The garage was exactly as it had been when his grandfather died and smelled like old cigarettes and motor oil.
    Colin pulled open the wide double doors, checking the street to make sure it was empty. The fog was still heavy enough that he couldn’t see past the end of the block.
    The car started with a roar on the first turn. Tamping down his panic, he pulled the car out onto the street, parked, and quickly got out and closed the double doors.
    Colin wasn’t a lawbreaker, at least not normally. He was beginning to feel queasy. Maybe this was a mistake?
    No, I’m committed. I have to do this.
    They were his parents; at the very least, he had to let them know he was unhappy and being bullied incessantly. He had to do something!
    He drove slowly down the street being careful not to give it too much gas. He’d almost made it the two blocks out of downtown when he hit the red light. There were only two stoplights in Elkwood, one by the school and this one that was activated by a crosswalk. He thought maybe it was a glitch as he couldn’t see anyone, and then he saw her. His heart sank somewhere deep down into his stomach.
    She walked out of the shadows of the old lawyer’s office building and crossed the street. It was Becca Emerson!
    What is she doing here?
    She looked as pale as always, her red hair tied back, wearing her usual dark clothes.
    Colin closed his eyes.
    Please don’t look. Don’t look, don’t look, just keep walking, don’t look this way, just keep walking.
    He opened his eyes. She was standing directly in front of his car wearing a stunned expression. Quickly regaining her composure, she walked around to the driver’s window. Colin was no longer certain he was breathing. He inched the window down and gave his best effort at being calm.
    â€œOh, hi, Becca,” squeaked Colin.
    â€œColin, what are you doing out here? You can’t be outhere. The meeting ended early.”
    â€œUhh, yeah I know. Grandmother just wanted me to start the old car and make sure the battery was okay,” said Colin, drumming nervously on the steering wheel. Colin didn’t lie well under normal circumstances, never mind while sitting in a stolen car about to take a road trip out of town in the middle of the night.
    Becca eyed