Free The Sunlight Slayings by Kevin Emerson Page B

of gummified centipedes. He finally headed toward the tables—
    â€œNocturne!” Theo called from nearby. “Sit!” Oliver reluctantly slid into a seat beside Maggots, at the end of Theo’s group.
    He looked up to see Theo staring at his plate like he was trying desperately not to laugh. “What?” Theo just shook his head. “C-come on,” Oliver stammered. “What?”
    â€œSwitch!” Theo shouted, and all the boys instantly stood up from the table.
    â€œWhat are you—” Oliver began, but then, across the room, he saw Suzyn, Monique, and their friends doing the same. “Wait, Theo, no—” Oliver scrambled to pick up his tray, but his centipedes scattered. He grabbed at them and was just standing up, when a cool hand fell on his shoulder.
    â€œOliver,” a confident voice said. He looked up to see Suzyn sliding into the seat across from him. She was almost a foot taller than him, with long, straight black hair. “Sit,” she said with a devious smile. Oliver wondered briefly if those were the first two words she’d ever actually said to him. Another girl, Kym, was sitting down beside her. And then Oliver sensed someone sitting next to him. He turned to find Monique. She only glanced at him for an instant, then looked shyly down at her tray.
    â€œSo,” Suzyn continued importantly, “we’ve been talking …” She said it with so much weight to her words that Oliver thought he might be crushed. “And we’ve decided that if neither of you are going to make the first move, we will.”
    Suzyn was smiling devilishly. Oliver just stared at her.
    â€œOliver,” Suzyn nagged, sounding frighteningly like his mother, “you haven’t thanked Monique for her thoughtful valentine.”
    â€œOh,” Oliver stammered, “oh, right. Thanks,” he mumbled, barely getting the word out.
    â€œMonique,” Suzyn instructed, “your turn.”
    â€œYou’re welcome,” Monique said in a mouse-quiet voice.
    Oliver risked a glance at her again and found her eyeing him halfway as well. She flashed an apologetic smile. Maybe she was as sick about all this as he was.…
    â€œSo it’s settled. You two are valentines,” Suzyn continued. “And now, Oliver, I’d like to invite you to my Valentine’s Day party this weekend.”
    â€œHuh?” Oliver said. He’d lost the ability to use words.
    Suzyn went on anyway. “But in order to come to the party, you have to bring a date.”
    She was like an enormous spider, wrapping him up slowly. “O-okay,” he said. Across the room, Theo and his buddies watched with wide smiles.
    â€œSo, who will your date be?” Suzyn was still staring at him expectantly.
    â€œUm, Monique?”
    â€œCorrect.” Suzyn rolled her eyes. “So you need to ask her to be your valentine.”
    â€œNow?” Oliver gasped. He thought he might turn to dust.
    Suzyn nodded.
    Oliver felt hot all over. Even his amulet wound was starting to ache. Just get it over with , he told himself. He looked over to Monique, his vision swimming with dizziness. Pain shot up and down his side. “Monique,” he began miserably, “will you be my … valentine?”
    There was an explosion of laughter from across the room.
    Monique didn’t answer. She was looking down at her tray. Oliver waited. His side was absolutely burning. Monique didn’t look up; in fact, her eyes were closed. Maybe she hated this as much as he did. Maybe they could just be friends, and band together against Suzyn.…
    Kym huffed, “Monique, come on .”
    Through the din of the cafeteria, Oliver heard a very slight sound. He realized it was coming from Monique. He was the only one close enough to hear it. Was she moaning? “Monique?” He reached forward and touched her shoulder.
    â€œNice!” Theo called from across the