Pretty Dark Nothing Read Online Free

and get your butt over there.”
    “I don’t even know what to say to her. Everything I think of sucks.” Aaron rolled the plectrum he carried across his knuckles and back again, like an old magician’s coin trick.
    “All right, as the ladies man of Westland High, I’ll coach you.”
    “Right, Cyrano, let’s hear it.”
    “Walk up to her, put your arm around her shoulder, smile, and say,” Marcus paused for dramatic effect. “Quinn, you rock my world.”
    Aaron laughed.
    “What’s so funny?” Marcus crossed his arms over his chest. “The girls go crazy for that line.”
    “Seriously, you can’t tell me it actually works. I bet you’ve never even used it.”
    “Oh, that hurts.” Marcus grabbed his chest in mock pain. “I bagged a set of mega-fine twins last week with that line.”
    “You’re mistaking your fantasies for reality.” Aaron shoved the plectrum back into his pocket where it belonged.
    Marcus shrugged. “So I’ve never used that line before, but trust me. It’s foolproof.”
    “Prove it. Teresa Moon’s with Quinn. I dare you to lay that foolproof line on her right now.”
    “No problem, man. Watch the master at work. She’ll be mine in no time .” Marcus slicked back his brown hair and flashed his best smile at Aaron. “Well, let’s go. I’m not going alone.”
    Fourteen steps.
    Aaron regretted the dare. Now, he’d have to talk to her.
    Ten.
    He couldn’t just stand there like a dummy at a sideshow.
    Nine.
    Sure, he’d talked to her before.
    Eight.
    But things were different now. She and Jeff weren’t together anymore.
    Seven.
    And that meant he might have a chance.
    ***
    Three tries and Quinn still couldn’t get her combination to land on the right numbers. She looked over her shoulder. Her doppelgangers had disappeared, but the feeling of being watched hadn’t.
    The puzzle didn’t fit. They had always been nightmares. Not show-up-in-broad-daylight-to-scare-you-while-you’re-awake mares. She must’ve dozed while waiting for Jeff and Kerstin to finish making out, waking when the bell rang. It’s the only explanation.
    She jiggled the locker handle and tried again. Fourth time’s a charm. Her locker opened with its usual squeak. Books with different colored covers stood in row. She replaced the literature book in the empty space next to calculus and pulled her thick French book from between chemistry and economics. Something tapped her shoulder. She whirled around to find Kerstin standing in front of her with her hands behind her back and a smirk on her face.
    “What do you want?”
    “I found this in Jeff’s locker.” Kerstin thrust a red, heart-shaped frame at Quinn. “He doesn’t want it anymore.”
    Quinn grabbed the picture.
    “Thanks, Kerstin. It’s so sweet of you to think of my feelings.” Quinn threw as much sarcasm into her voice as she could.
    “It’s the least I can do, Q.T.” Kerstin shot her a mocking smile.
    “Only my friends call me that.”
    “What? We’re not friends?” Kerstin covered her mouth in feigned shock. “I’m hurt.” She pouted. “But I’ll get over it. See you at practice. Oh, wait, I forgot, you’re ‘taking a break.’ At least you should have plenty of time to study. Coach White asked me to step in as captain in your absence.” She waited for the news to sink in. “What? No witty repartee? I’ll turn the other cheek.” She turned and stuck her right cheek out, baiting Quinn. It almost worked.
    “No? Pity. I would love to be captain permanently.” Kerstin cocked a smile then slinked down the hall. “Have a nice day,” she called over her shoulder, a last dig.
    “Yeah, you too.”
    Quinn traced the frame with her index finger. Her favorite picture of the two of them stared back at her. Jeff, tall and blond, wore the purple and red Westland High colors. A mustang blazed across his chest. Quinn stood beside him, dwarfed by his six foot, two-inch frame. She’d always felt safe in his arms.
    “Four years,” she