“But I hate being on camera!” Anna knew that my shyness included a fear of being video-recorded. First she insisted on a séance, then she added the presence of a boy, and now she wanted a visual record of the event. My anxiety went up a few more notches.
“Just your hands will be on camera, Sarah. We’ll need a tight shot of the board in order to see what it says. Think you can do that, Will?” She turned her intense gaze on him.
His flush deepened. “Yeah, sure. I can handle it.”
“I don’t know.” Using a skeptical tone, I tried a new approach. “I don’t think my mom will let us get away with this.”
“Oh Sarah, you know your mom will be thrilled that you’re having people over. Isn’t she always trying to get you to socialize more?”
So much for that tactic.
“Besides,” Anna continued, “your mom probably thinks séances are cool. Wasn’t she kind of goth when she was in college?”
“Yeah, she was. We’ve got some hilarious pictures to prove it.” This made me smile a little, despite my inner anxiety.
“All right, then. Tomorrow night it is.” Anna sounded satisfied.
“Yeah, tomorrow night it is,” echoed Will, sounding nervously ecstatic.
With a sigh, I went to the vending machines for another diet cola.
* * * *
My caffeine buzz got me through fifth and sixth periods. Before long, I was back in the cafeteria for study hall. Thankfully, this was the last period of the day. Plus, Nate Spencer was in this study hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Maybe I would catch a glimpse of him from afar.
Getting out my French textbook, I tried to get some homework done. I must have stared at the same page for a good five minutes before finally realizing that my tired eyes couldn’t keep the words in focus long enough to actually read them. Propping my elbows on the table and resting my head in my hands, I longed to just go to sleep…
“Are you okay?” came a voice on my right.
Lifting my head, I looked blearily in that direction.
Oh, my God! It was him, Nate Spencer, standing right next to my chair. What should I do? My mind went into a panicky blur. I suppose I need to answer him.
“Yeah—” I croaked.
He handed me a bottle of water. Oh my God! Nate Spencer just handed me a bottle of water! What should I do? Drink it? Yes, drinking it would be good.
Twisting the cap off the brand new bottle, I took a small sip. To my horror, it went down the wrong way. A loud coughing fit ensued. After eventually getting my dorky self under control, I realized that he had sat down beside me, rather than rushing away. He smiled and asked again, “Are you okay?”
I smiled back sheepishly. “Yes. Thank you for the water.”
“It didn’t really seem to help your situation,” he said, looking at me with a gleam in his eyes. “Are you sure you feel all right? You looked really pale.”
“I’m…yeah…um…I’m fine,” I stammered. “Just tired.”
“Late night?”
“No, not really. I just had trouble sleeping.”
He nodded sagely, as if he totally understood sleepless nights. “Well, if you’re sure you’re okay…”
“I am. Totally.”
“Okay, then,” he said, a trace of a smile still playing on his lips. His perfect, perfect lips. “See ya.” He got up and walked away, leaving me breathless.
End of Sampler: Dream Shade is available at MuseItUp Publishing and all reputable online retailers.
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Shadows of New York Page 18
