Shadow Keeper Read Online Free Page A

almost over when Sherry jumped up and started cleaning the mess on the table. “We’ve got to get moving, Lisa, so we’re not late to class.”
    “You can go with Paul,” I said. “Lisa and I have Spanish next. I’ll make sure she gets there on time.”
    Sherry’s lips twisted together as she gave Paul a sideways glance. Instead of walking to him, she grabbed Lisa’s wrist. “We girls have to straighten ourselves up first so we look presentable for class.”
    “Sleeping Beauty.” Carson’s bushy eyebrows lifted. “That trip is not necessary for either one of you.”
    Silently, I agreed. Lisa looked flawless. “I’ll see you in Spanish class.”
    She smiled at me from beneath her waterfall of blonde hair. “Save me a place close to you, so I’ll have at least one person nearby that I know.”
    “You got it,” I said.
    Right after the girls took off, I snagged the sack that still contained an apple and banana, and Grandma’s oatmeal cookies. I nudged Carson off the table with my foot. I wanted to get to Spanish class before Lisa showed up so I could rearrange the seating. As we hurried across the lawn to the entrance of the school, I tried to picture the classroom in my brain. Mentally, I moved the kids sitting around me before asking Carson’s advice. “How do you think that will work?”
    “When did you get to be such a control freak?”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “The way you want to move everyone around in class just so you can sit next to the new girl. And at lunch, you made me sit by Paul.”
    “Maybe you’re right.” I rubbed my fingers across my forehead. “It’s just that I’ve never felt this way about a girl before. I really want to get to know her better.”
    “Why? She doesn’t seem like your type.”
    I hadn’t had a lot of girlfriends, so I was curious about the kind of girl Carson would pick for me. “What is my type?”
    When Carson went deep into thought, his eyebrows furled together and his lips twisted askew. “I don’t know, but the new girl’s too bashful. She barely said two words at lunch. I like my women more outgoing.”
    “You mean, like Sherry?”
    Carson’s head snapped around, and he stared at me through squinted eyelids. “She’s Paul’s girlfriend.”
    “For now, but who knows how much longer.”
    “It doesn’t matter. Sherry likes smart, pretty boys. Not big, dumb ones.”
    Until now, I hadn’t realized how Carson felt about Sherry. I searched for something encouraging. “Sherry’s pretty boyfriends always seem to dump her for someone else. Maybe she’ll figure out looks aren’t as important as a guy who’ll treat her good.”
    A shrug of his shoulders was his only response. He didn’t want to talk about Sherry, so I went back to figuring out how to get Lisa into a spot next to me. When we entered the classroom, I lowered my voice so no one would overhear. “Are you sure you’ve got the plan straight, Carson?”
    “Yeah.” He led the way down the aisle to our desks. “When the new girl shows up—”
    “Her name is Lisa.”
    “Whatever.” He scrunched up his face, and I almost heard the gears turning in his head. “I’m supposed to let her have my seat.”
    “Not there.” I grabbed his arm to stop him from sitting in his usual place behind me. “You sit in my desk, and I sit at yours.”
    “Well, if you want her to sit in your spot, then why don’t you offer it to her yourself?”
    I scooted into his desk, hoping the visual aid would help him understand. “Because I want to sit behind her.”
    “Then where am I supposed to sit if I give up my place?”
    “I don’t know.” I glanced around. Behind me to the left sat one of the football players on the junior varsity team. “Vanetti, go sit somewhere else.”
    “I like it here.” He hunkered down in the chair, like he wouldn’t give it up without a fight.”
    “ Señores ,” Mrs. Hayes said. “ Sólo hablan español, por favor .”
    The teacher insisted we