Rise of the Moon (Moonlit Series Book 1) by Rachel Hera Page B

asked.
    “What?” I was taken aback.
    “The song you’re humming. The Beatles, right? ‘Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away.’”
    I hadn’t really been paying attention, really, but I didn’t admit that. “Yeah, I guess. How was biology?”
    “Boring. I’ve seen the material before,” he shrugged.
    “Did you learn it at your old school?” I asked.
    “I just like to read and gain knowledge,” he answered.
    “Somehow that suits you,” I told him. “And Blake?”
    “He prefers to watch the movie,” he grinned.
    “And that doesn’t surprise me,” I laughed.
    “I just don’t have the patience,” Blake appeared at my shoulder, and I would have jumped if I hadn’t watched him approach in my peripheral vision. “Reading takes up too much of my time. I could be out doing other things.”
    “You don’t know what you’re missing,” I told him.
    “An avid reader?” he asked.
    “Any spare chance I get,” I glanced around, realizing that Kristy and Chantelle had gone as swiftly as they’d come.
    “So what am I missing in books that I can’t get through real life experiences?” Blake persisted.
    “It’s a form of escapism. I long to live in worlds I can only touch through the words of authors. And unfortunately, I don’t know how to describe it. It’s something you either know the feeling of, or you don’t,” I said to Blake.
    “Well, what kinds of books do you read?” he leaned casually against the lockers, as if getting ready for a long conversation.
    “Anything I can get my hands on,” I told him. “But Maddie would tell you the only books she’s seen me reading lately are supernatural novels.”
    “Supernatural?”
    “Yeah… but speaking of Maddie, I should go find her. She’s probably waiting for me somewhere,” I glanced down the hall at the clock. She couldn’t have gotten too far, even if she was waiting. Only four minutes had passed since I’d gotten to my locker.
    “So no tour?”
    “If you’ve found your way to all your classes, I’m not sure you need to know too much more. You seem like a tough guy. You’ll find your way, I’m sure,” I told him. “I’ll see you in English, Blake. See you around, Jason.”
    “I’m sure you will,” Jason said.
    “Bye, Evelyn,” Blake said.
    I turned, walking away. Their voices floated down the hall after me.
    “Cafeteria?” Jason asked Blake. “I’m starving.”
    “Me, too,” was the response. “Maybe…”
    Their voices grew distant as I reached the stairwell, heading upstairs to Maddie’s locker. I suspected it already, but I was a little disappointed to find she wasn’t there. I didn’t see Maegan, either. I circled the floor, then headed down a floor to the cafeteria, immediately spotting Blake and Jason again.
    “It’s like you missed us or something,” Blake chuckled as I neared them in the lunch line.
    “An unlikely story,” I said, peeking around the corner to see if any of them were in line. When I didn’t see them, I went down the hall to the seating area, looking around to see if I could spot them. Evan spotted me, and I gave a small wave, but I kept moving. Maybe they’d gone back down to my locker to grab me.
    It was the downfall of a school this big. Two people could roam the halls searching for each other for an entire period. Why couldn’t Kristy and Chantelle have just waited for me at the beginning of lunch?
    When I didn’t spot them at my locker, I went outside to see if Maegan’s car was still there. It was, so they didn’t go out for lunch. They could be outside. I began heading towards the park. And if I couldn’t find them there, then… I don’t know. I’d go back and eat with Evan and Philip… or something.
    I was in luck, though, because there they were.
    “Thanks for ditching me,” I called out.
    “I thought you were giving Blake and Jason a tour of the school?” Kristy said as I approached the group. They sat outside on a picnic table under a tall pine tree.