Read Crave (Harlequin Teen) for Free Online

elderly home, he peeled himself out of the chair, then made a big show of bowing over it. “Your throne, Prince Tristan.”
    Letting out a long, slow breath, I sat down.
    He took his time making the four short steps around the table to my old seat. Once in it, he proceeded to sit and stare at me for the rest of the lunch break, sorely tempting me to punch him.
    What was with him lately? We’d been best friends growing up. But something about starting high school this year seemed to have set him off. All year long, I’d been getting more and more attitude from him. Like he resented me because my father led the Clann or something. Or maybe it was because my family wanted me to be the next Clann leader? Except that didn’t make sense, either. Dylan knew better than anyone how much I just wanted to be normal and live my own life, not the one my parents wanted for me.
    So why the sudden attitude from him all the time?
    Whatever. Dylan’s issues with the Clann and its leadership weren’t my problem. Right now, my problem was figuring out what was wrong with Savannah.
    No way was it normal for her to miss a whole week of school. I couldn’t remember a single day when I hadn’t been able to catch at least one glimpse of her in the halls between classes. She’d always been around somewhere, just waiting to suck the air out of my lungs and hit me with that ache in my chest and gut every time I saw her.
    I needed information. Fast.
    I waited till algebra ended, then followed Anne to the outer walkway. “Hey, Anne. Wait a minute.”
    She looked over her shoulder at me, huffed, then walked away faster.
    Fighting back a snarl, I jogged to close the distance. She never stopped walking even after I caught up with her. Not that it was hard to keep up with her short legs.
    “Listen, I….” Okay, how should I ask for updates about someone without giving the wrong impression?
    With a sigh, Anne jerked to a halt. “You know, your sense of self-entitlement really knows no end, does it?”
    Huh?
    She glared at me. “Right. Too many big words. Moving on. I suppose you’re trying to be nosy and ask about a certain sick person?”
    Surprised she’d already guessed what I wanted, I nodded in silence.
    She hesitated, as if thinking about what to say. “I’ll tell you, but you’ve gotta tell me something first.”
    “Okay?”
    “Why do you care?”
    “Uh…” Now how was I supposed to answer that one?
    “Let’s get something straight, Coleman. Savannah is really nice.”
    “I know.” She’d have to be to pick you for a friend, I added silently.
    “So she deserves someone nice. Not a player who just sees her as some sort of challenge.”
    Was that how Savannah thought of me, too…as a player? I shrugged off the question for now. “Aren’t you kind of laying it on thick here? All I’m asking is if she’s okay. Nothing more. No big deal.” I tried my smoothest smile on her, the one that even won over the dragon ladies in the front office.
    “Fine. In that case…”
    My heart missed a beat.
    “She’s not dead.” She turned and walked away.
    Something hot and furious that had been building in my chest all week exploded. I yelled to her, “That’s all you’re going to tell me?”
    “Yep. That’s all you get, Coleman,” she yelled back without stopping or turning her head. “You want more information, go buy it from somebody else.”
    Unbelievable.
    It took a few seconds for me to calm down enough to see straight. When I could, I stomped off toward the main hallway and my locker. Too bad it was the off-season and we were mostly focusing on weight and cardio training. Otherwise I could have at least hit something during football practice.
    In the main hall, I spotted one of Savannah’s other friends. Michelle something. She was an office aide during first period every day and was a whole lot nicer than Evil Anne.
    I took a chance, leaning against the locker beside Michelle’s. I gave her a smile and hoped it