Read Lucas Ryan Versus: The Hive (The Lucas Ryan Versus Series) for Free Online Page B

around and see me. Just for a tiny second, so I could wave to her. I closed my eyes and wished that she’d at least give me one last look. A quick gust of wind brought the smell of the football fields freshly cut grass into my nose. A calmness settled inside my chest. When I opened my eyes she was staring directly at me. She was easily 150 yards away, but there she was, eyes wide open. Locked onto me like laser beams.
    I mouthed one single word, silently, “Hi.” My right hand began to vibrate as if I was still grasping the magical stone from my locker. She cocked her head and pulled out the two sticks that were holding her long hair in a messy bun. Dark brown hair fell all around her shoulders and back. She was a dream. Her hand raised up and offered me a slight wave just before she entered the car. I stood mesmerized. The rumbling car spun its tires again and sped out of the parking lot.
    “I’ll pick you up at 6:30, Romeo,” Taylor said, walking up to me. I barely heard him.
    “Okay,” I blinked. My hand tingled with static.
    “Swift! Get your golden boy muscles over here!” Coach Kitna bellowed. He stood tall in the middle of the field, with a whistle in one hand, and a clipboard in the other. Taylor watched me for another moment before tossing his water bottle to Morgan. She scooped it up with an awkward smile born of embarrassment. Taylor ran off in the direction of his team and Morgan’s eyes followed. He turned around, running backwards with ease.
    “Proud of you, Luc!” he called out. It filled me with pride. Only Taylor could make me feel that way. One of his many hidden superpowers, I guess.
     
    I pointed at him with a dizzy smile across my face. “Bring the thunder, Thor!”

LEVEL 06: Crushcrushcrush
     
     
     
    Walking up to the school entrance and hearing the first hint of music pouring from the doors, almost made me forgive Taylor for being late. Football practice had run long and he barely had time to cleanup before tonights concert. I raced through the front doors, heading straight for my locker, trying to shake off the last few hours of my day.
    “Pick me up,” I said, under my breath.
    After football practice I made my way home with my head in a fog. I was still on a high from my run in with Olivia, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of having my hand stuck to that mysterious rock earlier. I spent two hours pacing my bedroom. My neighbors, the Anderson’s, spent two hours watching me with expensive binoculars, pace my bedroom. I didn’t care though, I was too haunted by my secret. What was it? What did it want with me?
    “Wait! Where are you going, Luc? The auditorium is the other way!” Roland called down the school halls. His warning only made me run faster.
    “Lucas?” he called out, again. Morgan watched me worried, but never relinquished her position by the side of Taylor and his freakishly well-defined arm.
    “I’ll just be a minute!” I yelled over my shoulder, in a full sprint.
    Taylor pulled the twins toward the music. “Come on you two. He’s a big boy. He’s just nervous about tonight.”
    “I guess,” Roland shrugged.
    “Tickets are on me,” Taylor smiled. He marched for the auditorium doors. Morgan melted and followed without hesitation. Roland slowly did the same.
     
    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
     
    With three quick spins of the dial on my locker’s combination lock, I frantically opened its door. I wasn’t ready for what I saw. The stone was now the size of a brick, and had sunk almost the entire way through the bottom of my locker. It was darker now, beyond black. Thin silver ridges were cut like lightning all over it. These new ridges were moving in a serpent like motion, just under its glossy surface. Their movement was creepy and unnatural. The lines swam through the blackness slow and beautiful. I rubbed my eyes, trying to focus harder on this strange jewel.
    “What are you?” I whispered.
     
    ~ Pick me up. ~
     
    “I can’t.”
     
    ~ Pick me up. ~
     
    “Am I