Free Lurker by Stefan Petrucha

polite. It doesn’t last.
    MC9010025 : Well, I wouldn’t mind if the nice stuck around
    Kylenevers : Believe me, compared 2 some of the places I lived, Elmwood started out plenty nice.
    MC9010025 : I guess. R u going to N’s funeral?
    Kylenevers : Can’t. Brunch with family and a friend of dad’s. He’s a real player at Stanford U. It’s 1 of the colleges high on my list, so I totally have 2 show.
    MC9010025 : Kewl
    Kylenevers : Shouldn’t you have left by now?
    MC9010025 : OMG! Crap. I am soooo late. Gotta go. TTFN
    Kylenevers : BFN
    By the time Mandy got to the chapel, it was alreadyfull. People stood on the threshold and spilled out onto the concrete walk. Cameramen and reporters gathered near the door, and Mandy skirted them, choosing to stand on a small circle of concrete at the corner of the church. She tried to call Laurel on her cell, but for once in her life, Laurel had the phone turned off. Drew’s phone was the same. So, Mandy stood on the periphery of the gathered mourners, men in black suits and women in conservative dresses and pantsuits.
    She wished Kyle were there, though she totally understood him wanting to make points with the guy from Stanford. Kyle was focused on his future, and she liked that about him. Besides, Mandy had to admit, it would be pretty strange to have a first date ( okay not a date, just meeting ) at a classmate’s funeral.
    A man wearing a long black coat walked into Mandy’s peripheral vision, and her heart skipped a beat. She turned toward him, instantly thinking of the Witchman. But it was just a mourner, making his way to the chapel doors.
    When Dale pulled his Audi into the lot and parked against the curb behind a news van, she knew she wouldn’t stay. At first, a spark of defiancekept her feet grounded. She wasn’t going to run off just because of him. She did, however, rationalize that she couldn’t see the service. She would never get in. It’ll probably go on for hours. Besides, she had gone to the candlelight vigil. If Nicki were looking down at her, she’d totally understand.
    So, Mandy slipped around the side of the church, walking up a grassy rise and back onto Summer Avenue, which would wind around to Garret Street three blocks from her house.
    At home, she logged on to her computer and waited for Kyle to get home from brunch so she could tell him all about the circus at the chapel.
    Â 
    â€œSo, you ditched us for a username?” Laurel said. “Not cool.”
    â€œI know. I’m sorry. We were just chatting and I wasn’t watching the time. How was the service?”
    â€œWell, I’m still a mess,” Laurel said. “It was beautiful and really sweet, and I don’t think I’ve cried that much in my life.”
    â€œHow’d Drew hold up?”
    â€œHow do you think?”
    â€œThat bad?”
    â€œWorse,” Laurel said. “But hell, no one was exactly acting cool, you know?”
    â€œI’m really sorry,” Mandy said. “I should have been there.”
    â€œDamn straight. But we gotta keep livin’, so I sort of forgive you. But only sort of.”
    â€œWhat are you doing for the rest of the afternoon?” Mandy asked.
    â€œTalkin’ to you. Talkin’ to Drew. Watchin’ some screen. Might actually study for that calculus test Wednesday.”
    â€œDo you think Walpern will really give us a test this week? God, nobody can even concentrate on normal things.”
    â€œYou were there Friday. You heard him. He said ‘test,’ so I’m thinkin’ test. And since calculus is the one class that wants to blow my grade point, I’m thinkin’ crackin’ that book might be a good idea.”
    â€œUgh,” Mandy said. “I’ll never be ready by Wednesday.”
    â€œYou will if you don’t spend all your time chattin’ with Mr. Internet Yummy Drawers.”

7
    Kylenevers : How was