Unveiled: A Paranormal Urban Fantasy Novel (The Dark Skies Trilogy Book One) by Lysa Daley Page B

know?" Ruby replies, busy shopping online for shoes. "I don't do carbs."
    "They're buckwheat." Phoebe, who usually doesn't have lunch this period, replies. She's only sitting with us because none of her senior pals are currently around. "Something about the lunch program becoming healthier."
    In the shade of a huge eucalyptus, our trio sits at a picnic table dotted with the shadowy residue of years of dried bird poop.
    This is the first school I've been to where you can pretty much eat lunch outside all year long. I love this place so much that the remnants of bird poop don't even bother me.
    I'm still in a dreamy mood from my pleasant interaction with Chad Olson and our afternoon study date that I continue to eat the chewy and bland waffles.
    "What's up with you, Astrid?" Phoebe asks, her eyebrows raised. "You look all glowy or something."
    Ruby keeps her eyes glued to the computer screen. "She's giddy because she’s partners with Chad Olson in biology class."
    "Please tell me that isn't Brad Olson's little brother?" Phoebe makes a face. I’m starting to think she’s a little obsessed with Brad. "Cause those Olson boys all think they're God's gift."
    "Chad and Brad?" I repeat. "Wow, creative parents."
    "Don't condemn Chad cause Brad dumped you," Ruby says to her sister as she picks at a Caesar salad between sips of some fruity calorie free liquid. "I think Chad wants to ask our little Astrid here to the spring formal."
    "That's ridiculous," I snort. But secretly, I really, really, really hope that it isn't ridiculous. I mean, the spring formal is probably something of a reach, but maybe coffee or something in the next, let's say, 6 to 8 months – that isn't biology class related – might not be totally unreasonable.
    "I thought Meegan McGovern had her claws dug pretty deep into him?" Phoebe asks.
    "Nuh uh. I hear that he and Meegan are splitsville," Ruby smiles, finally looking up at us as she swivels the laptop toward me. "Check out these metallic, color-blocked peep-toes. To die for."
    "Well, I'm sure Astrid here is not interested in a lower life form like Chad Olson," Phoebe says.
    "Oh yes, I am," I state emphatically. "Quite interested, in fact."
    "Astrid, believe me, you can do better."
    "Okay, first of all, I think Chad Olson is super hot, and if he asks me to hold his backpack while he blows his nose, I will feel totally honored." I choose to ignore the sour face Phoebe is making. "And, in fact, he did ask me to study with him after school today."
    "That's amazing! Today?" Ruby says, her mouth wide open. "Let's go to the mall."
    "What? How does that have anything to do with anything?" I ask, thinking I missed some transition in this conversation.
    "To buy you something to wear for your study date," she replies.
    "But it's after school in the library," I reply, looking down at my uniform. "I think what I'm wearing is fine."
    "C'mon. We have to leave now to make it back before lit." She stands, looking at her watch and calculating. "We have 52 minutes before the bell, so we can just zip over to the London Square Mall and, at least, get you some decent shoes."
    "I thought you liked the ones you found online? Peep toes to die for?"
    "Not for a study date." She rolls her eyes like she can barely deal with my stupidity. "Oh young grasshopper, you have much to learn. Maybe we can find some earrings and perfume too."
    Fifteen minutes later, I find myself strolling through an open-air mall with a $9 pressed juice in my hand. It's pretty quiet except for a few bored window-shopping fashionistas tottering around on wedge heels and clutching their designer bags.
    "Maybe this wasn't a great idea," I say as we’re assaulted by a cacophony of scents as we stroll past a fancy candle store. "And you know what, I think I like the shoes we saw online. Plus it's free shipping."
    Ignoring me, Ruby spots something in the window of a shop and decides that I must try it on. "You would look fierce in those jeans."
    "But I thought we were