Reveal (Cryptid Tales) Read Online Free Page B

her bright blonde hair and tan skin she practically glows sunshine. I always wonder how I’m not adopted. My skin is almost as pale as some of the ghosts I’ve met and my hair is so dark that people constantly ask me if it’s dyed. My brother resembles my mom and possibly a little bit of my dad with his football player stature.
     
    My dad was a big guy and he gave the best hugs. He would call them his teddy bear hugs. He’d put on this huge brown coat and wrap us both in it when he would hug me if I was upset or angry. It always made me smile; it still does when I think about it. I sometimes wonder if Chad would wear that coat if his hugs would feel the same. I doubt it, but it might be nice to try one day. I know it’s kept in the back of the coat closet. I see it every year when I get out the Christmas ornaments, it’s nice to know my mom kept it, even after all these years. To me, it’s further proof that she still holds out hope that we’ll find him. Thinking about my dad makes me feel low and a single salty tear rolls down my cheek and onto my lips. Lucky for me Mom doesn’t notice, she’s turned her thoughts elsewhere and is looking into the night.
     
    “ Mom?” I ask, “You OK?”
     
    She startles out of her thoughts, “What me? Oh, I’m fine.” She says before taking another long drink from her mug. I nod and finish my drink loving every last drop as it fills my body with warmth.
     
    “ Well I’ve got a little homework, so I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say as I stand and place my half of the blanket on her lap.
     
    “ Right, OK. I’ll be in soon, goodnight darling,” she says as I lean in to kiss her on the cheek.
     
    “ Night Mom, love you.”
     
    As I start to walk away she gives a delayed response, “You too hon, goodnight.”
     

Chapter 7
     
    School starts as usual with morning announcements and attendance. Mostly before Calculus starts I just doodle on a notebook or finish homework from another class. I don’t really have anyone to talk to in this class and Mrs. Snickle would love to confiscate a cell phone or two so I keep mine hidden in the front pocket of my book bag. I decide I’m going to make up for yesterday and prove Mrs. Snickle wrong (and annoy her) by raising my hand for every single question she asks today. Answer to number fourteen? Got it. Who can identify pi? Me. Wearing pink underwear? Right here lady! Come and get me you old bag, I’m going to be your worst nightmare.
     
    After Calculus, and thus exhausting Mrs. Snickle, I make a quick stop at the bathroom to check my makeup. I went with purple lipstick today and Chad told me in the car that I was embarrassing and looked like a goth. I mean I’m wearing a purple short sleeved shirt and jeans, it’s not like I’ve become a princess of the apocalypse or anything. But now that I’m looking in the mirror I begin to wonder if it is a bit too much and grab a towel to wipe it off. As I’m removing what’s left of the dark purple lipstick I notice my eyes are a golden brown. “That’s so weird,” I say aloud, as my eyes have always been dark brown. I pull my eyelid up to examine them further. Maybe it’s the bright lights of the school restroom, I mean they can’t be changing colors after eighteen years of being boring brown, can they? Just as I start to question this further and try to examine the lights above the mirror, the bell rings and I have to run to get to English.
     
    I slide into my seat as the last bell sounds and poke Olivia in the back with my pencil. The class is still settling in and I take the opportunity to ask her, “Do my eyes look different to you?”
     
    “ What?”she asks, turning around to look at me like I’ve got three heads.
     
    “ Why, did you do your makeup differently? Did your mom finally buy you that MAC eye liner?” Her eyes light up, Olivia loves expensive things. Her obsession with Coach and MAC would close her parents shop if her mother hadn’t come from old