Read Dark Mind (The Dark Mind Trilogy Book 1) for Free Online Page A

lowering. You better not be screwing with me.
    Her face seemed to show genuine emotion. “Ohhh. I'm sorry. Is she okay?”
    “She will be. I was hoping I could see her later today.” Why did I say that?
    “I’m sure she'll be better soon,” Amy said and smiled.
    Open your mouth wide and blink hard three times. Then shrug twice.
    What?! Cole practically shouted out loud. Are you kidding me? You’re gonna drop this on me now of all times? No! I’m not doing it. Deal with it.
    “Are you okay?” Amy asked.
    Cole realized that even though he hadn’t obeyed the request, his face had been slightly contorted into a mixture of rage and desperation. “Sorry, yeah, just a little upset over it. Thanks.” He forced a weak smile.
    There were a few seconds awkward silence, broken by Amy. “So…I just wanted to say that I felt bad about what happened a couple days ago.”
    Great, this is a pity talk . Of course it is. He had tried to tell himself this would happen, but nevertheless, he felt on the verge of tears. He held them in. The last thing he wanted was to show more weakness. I should’ve known better. “Thanks,” he mumbled.
    “No, really, they were all being jerks. And… I didn’t want you to think I was a jerk too.”
    Cole lifted his head and met her eyes, straining to figure out what she was thinking. Maybe I was wrong. The blur of flip-flopping emotions was making his head spin. “It’s okay. I don’t think you’re a jerk.”
    Amy smiled again. “Good. So, what kind of things do you like?”
    Cole hesitated again. “I’ll tell you what I don’t like. The dinner my aunt made last night. I swear it was throw-up. Green mushy chunks that smelled like it too.”
    Amy laughed. “Ewww, gross. Glad I didn’t have that.” She didn’t say anymore, just watched him, waiting for him to continue.
    Damn, that didn’t work. I gave her so many possible tangents, but she didn't go off any of them. She really actually wants to know what I like. What am I supposed to like? Would she think I was weird if I said the truth? Screw it. “I just started reading Edgar Allen Poe last night. It was one of the best things I’ve ever read.”
    Amy looked confused. “Never heard of it.”
    “He’s an author. I read a collection of his…never mind. I’ll have to show you. It’s great.”
    Amy picked up her sandwich and took a small bite. Cole took this as a sign to resume eating his own lunch. He glanced over at the other kids at the table and was surprised to see they weren’t watching anymore. Attention spans of dogs .
    “So you like to read?” Amy asked.
    Cole froze. “Um, yeah, I guess so.” Was that the wrong thing to say? Is that the end of this conversation?
    Amy leaned in closer, beckoning Cole to do the same. “Promise to keep a secret?”
    “Yeah, definitely,” Cole said, now more intrigued than anything.
    “I love to read too. I do it all the time. But you can’t tell any of them,” she said, nodding at the group of kids at the other end of the table. “They’ll just make fun of me for it.”
    “And you’ll get enough of that just for talking to me?” Cole said, smiling for the first time.
    “Hehe, no, they’ll come to like you, I promise. I knew you seemed like a cool kid. I’ll show them that too.”
    “You know, you’re pretty mature for your age.”
    “So are you,” Amy said.
    “So what kind of books do you read?” Cole said.
    They talked for the rest of lunch, mainly about books they had read. They had few favorites in common , but each one showed interest in the books the other one liked. As lunch period ended, they stood up with their trays, preparing to go in separate directions. Cole hadn’t realized how much he had been enjoying himself until it was time to go. He kept a straight face, forbidding his sadness to reach the surface.
    “That was fun. I like you,” Amy said.
    “Yeah, you too.”
    “Okay I gotta get to class. See ya.”
    “Yeah, see ya.” Cole reluctantly