Last Dance Read Online Free Page B

assured me we’d hear from him when he had news. Her voice rang with hope, and I was relieved she’d showed no signs of illness. Instead, she was like a super woman, already in her office making calls before I’d even started breakfast.
    There was nothing for me to do, except go to school—which I so did not want to do. The news about Danielle nearly bleeding to death on the football field would be Gossip Topic #1. And if anyone found out about my part in that drama, I’d become Topic #2.
    Penny-Love met me on the way, and I was relieved she didn’t even mention Danielle. Old news already, I thought hopefully. Instead Penny-Love went on and on about the Fall Fling Dance: what she was wearing, the guy she planned to ask, and elaborate decorating plans.
    Relieved to slip into my normal routine, I only half-listened. It was like there were two Sabines, one who could act like a dance was as important as world peace, and another who heard voices and had psychic visions. Guess it was no accident my sign was Gemini. I never talked about weird stuff at school. Mostly, I did a lot of listening. Especially with Penny-Love. It’s funny how people liked you when you let them talk. After being run out of my last school, it was a relief to be accepted and even popular.
    Penny-Love was the Queen Bee of Sheridan High. A self-proclaimed diva, she knew everything about everyone, sometimes even before they knew. She filled me in on the latest three D’s: dating, dumping, and dissing. I nodded at appropriate pauses and tried to pay attention. But my mind kept wandering back to the cozy yellow house on Lilac Lane. How was Nona doing alone? Had her upbeat attitude been real or an act? Why was I wasting my time at school when she might need me? I had a strong feeling I should have stayed home.
    At my locker I found out why.
    “Well if it isn’t Sabine,” a voice spoke low and menacing. “I was wondering when you’d show up.”
    An icy chill swept over me as I faced Evan Marshall. Tall, with broad shoulders and narrowed dark eyes, he stood in front of my locker. His aura sparked with crimson and a green as dark as nightforest. His scowl was evidence he still blamed me for ruining his friendship with Josh. But it was his own deceit that backfired on him.
    “Move aside,” I ordered. “You’re blocking my locker.”
    “Are you always this rude in the morning?” he drawled, bending slightly to look into my eyes.
    I wanted to fire back with some witty comment, but what was the use? I didn’t have the energy to educate jerks. So I just glared and repeated, “Move.”
    “Sure, sure—after we have a little talk.”
    “I have nothing to say to you.”
    “Really?” His sarcastic smile made me shiver. “Not even about poor, crazy Danielle?”
    “Have some respect. She was your girlfriend.”
    “I know, and I felt bad when I heard she was in the hospital. So I went to visit her yesterday.”
    “You did?” I asked, startled. “How did your new girlfriend feel about that?”
    “Shelby said it was cool that I cared about an old friend, and that I’m the sweetest, nicest guy she’s ever met.”
    “She needs to get out more. Now would you please move aside so I can get to my locker.”
    “Not until I thank you for helping Danielle,” he said with barbed sarcasm.
    “Me?” I shook my head. “I don’t know what you mean. I didn’t do anything.”
    “Oh don’t be modest. I know what happened Friday night.” He leaned in closer and ominously lowered his voice. “The nurses wouldn’t let me talk with Danielle, but I had a long conversation with her father. And he told me some amazing things. About you.”
    I gulped and glanced down at the cement ground.
    “How did you know Danielle was in trouble?” Evan demanded.
    “A lucky guess.”
    “You guessed she was bleeding to death on the football field at night?”
    It did sound kind of far-fetched when he put it that way. I twisted the end of my braid. “The bell is going to