Read Anew: The Archers of Avalon, Book One for Free Online

shopping trip every payday.
    Scarlet shivered again and decided to charge into her wardrobe and find her own attire. She padded over to the double-doors of her closet and, literally, ran into Heather.
    “Hey-hey! Get back to your mirror.” Heather had her hands full of shirts and shorts and belts and…a swim suit?
    Scarlet eyed Heather’s booty. “I’m not wearing a swimsuit.”
    “Relax, it’s for me. I’m borrowing it.”
    “Ah.” Scarlet nodded. “I see.”
    “These,” Heather handed Scarlet a pair of jean shorts and a soft, faded, blue t-shirt, “are for you. I chose blue to match your eyes. You have killer eyes. Okay, the look we’re going for tonight is Cute And Casual.”
    Scarlet smiled. “Excellent. You can go home, I know how to do Cute And Casual.”
    “No.” Heather shook her head. “No, you don’t. You think you can do Cute And Casual…but I’ve seen you try it and it just comes out looking….” Heather tapped her chin with a shiny fingernail. “Lazy.”
    Scarlet huffed. “I am not a lazy dresser. Yesterday, I spent ten minutes picking out my outfit.”
    “Yesterday you wore the baggy shirt.”
    Scarlet puckered her lips. “Good point.”
    Heather rolled her eyes. “That is why I should be here every time you get dressed. I’m talking, first thing in the morning, seven days a week. Even if you’re not going anywhere that day, I should still supervise your outfit choices.”
    Scarlet laughed as she climbed into her comfortable shorts and pulled the cozy shirt on. “Okay, you do that.”
    Heather bustled about Scarlet’s room, setting up a vanity area to do makeup. “Come, sit down. We have twenty minutes to make you stunning for the Greek god.”
    “Please. Gabriel probably won’t be there.”
    But, oh, how she hoped he would be. She wanted to hear his voice again.
    “Well, then, I’m going to pretty you up for any other Greek gods that might strike up a convo with you while I’m off kissing boys. Now sit down and behave.”
    Scarlet played along and sat in front of Heather, who was armed with a makeup brush, a powder tray of some sort, and a no-nonsense attitude. Scarlet tried not to cough or sneeze while powder went all over her face and tickled her nose.
    “So,” Heather switched the powder out for eye shadow, “lover boy didn’t give you any details about his life last night. Therefore, our objective tonight is to find out who he is.”
    Scarlet tried not to squeeze her eyelids closed as Heather stabbed them with tiny brush bristles.
    Heather continued, “You know, get to know the real Gabriel—what did you say his last name was?”
    “Archer.”
    “Gabriel Archer?” Heather rolled her eyes. “Geez, even his name is hot.” She moved to Scarlet’s lips and started commanding Scarlet to do things like, “Say ahh” and “Make an ‘O’ face” and “Don’t smile.”
    “If Gabriel Archer shows up at the Kissing Festival tonight, I’ve got a whole list of questions for him. Starting with: does he have a brother?”
    Scarlet rolled her eyes. “You are so boy crazy.”
    “And proud of it!” Heather finished with Scarlet’s lips and started messing with her dark hair. Several minutes and lots of tugging later, Heather was finished hair. “Voila! You look beautiful. You are well-dressed and not drape-like. I have succeeded.”
    Scarlet looked at herself in the mirror. The makeup was a little much, but her hair and outfit were…cute. “Thanks, Heather.”
    “Anytime.” Heather replied. “And when I say ‘anytime’ what I mean is all the time. Like, daily.”
    Scarlet shook her head. “Whatever, let’s just go.”
    The girls headed to the town center just as night fell.

4
    The second night of the festival, Gabriel stood at the edge of the park watching Scarlet and Heather approach the Kiss Walk. The Kiss Walk was basically a giant game of musical chairs, but without the chairs. Like a Cake Walk. But instead of a cake, the winner received free