Free A Shimmer of Angels by Lisa M. Basso Page B

lips. “Bold choice,” she said, then moved to my left.
    My head whirled like a centrifuge, spinning out of control. I needed an anchor, a way to put these thoughts away before they exploded out of me. With shaking fingers, I dropped the paintbrush and smoothed my hair back, then dug into my backpack for my secret notebook. I roughly sketched the image I remembered from Allison’s canvas with the edge of a dull pencil.
    Around me, each brush stroke, footstep, and whisper set me on edge. Every few seconds I peered over my shoulders. No one could know how much I was slipping. No one could see the thoughts in this notebook.
    My original idea of throwing out the notebook before I got home, erasing any trace of these thoughts, was beginning to unravel. It had already become a part of me, as important to my sanity as any of the lessons I’d learned from Dr. G. Detaching from it now would be like using Miracle-Gro to get rid of weeds; stupid and so not logical.
    The final bell rang while I was still in deep thought with my notebook. I washed my brush, packed up my notebook, and ran to the main stairway, hoping to disappear in the faceless crowd.
    Through the glass front doors, I spotted Lee in our usual meeting spot, right out in front, leaning against the black handrail. The gray afternoon seemed brighter than usual. I blinked and looked again. The unmistakable sparkle of wings cast a sort of halo around Lee.
    The slow gulp of cool air I took lodged in my throat. Two minutes ago I’d wanted nothing more than to disappear into the crowd. Now, as the rush of students pressed into me, forcing me toward those wings, I was wishing I’d gone down the deserted back staircase. I pushed past the glass doors with numb fingers.
    It was as if Lee was standing with the devil himself—assuming the devil looked like he’d stepped out of an Abercrombie and Fitch billboard.
    “Ray!” Lee straightened, waving his hands to get my attention. Cam stared at me from over Lee’s shoulder. I clenched my fists around the straps of my backpack and weaved over to them. “This is Cam.” Excitement never left his voice. “He’s gonna walk with us.”
    The blood from my face drained. Not in this lifetime .
    Cam didn’t look at all surprised to see me. His smile was meant to look casual, but muscles ticked in his jaw, warning me there was something barely contained lurking beneath that cool exterior. His gray eyes studied me just as deeply as I studied him.
    I inched closer to Lee and swallowed. “Actually, I forgot. I’m supposed to pick my sister up from school.” The lie tumbled out before I realized I’d be leaving my best friend with Cam … and those wings.
    I slid my gaze to them. Almost every spectrum of light shimmered from his feathers. Outside they were prismatic, even now that the fog had returned. His face gleamed slightly, like his skin had been infused with gold powder. He squinted at me, obviously mistrusting.
    Ditto, buddy.
    “Oh, that’s kinda great, ‘cause I’m meeting my mom at her work today.” Lee’s tone dripped sweetness, like his tongue was made of taffy. With all the candy he ate, it was a serious possibility. “Should we go?” He angled around us and started walking.
    Out of excuses, Cam and I followed, keeping the same pace alongside Lee. Him to one side, me on the other.
    Lee glanced at me. A toothy grin widened across his face, only it didn’t crinkle his eyes, making them shrink the way his smiles usually did. No, this smile was much more intent. What was he up to?
    Oh God. Was he trying to set me up?
    Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cam watching me. Maybe he had manipulated Lee. Could he do that? No, of course not. Hallucination, remember?
    My face contorted at the thought. The heat of his gaze zapped through every pore of my skin. Inside I was screaming, crumpling, and fighting. Laylah’s school and the Korean consulate were in roughly the same direction. Once I got Lee alone, I could question him