Read Lucas Ryan Versus: The Return for Free Online

that, Lucas?”
    “I don’t know.” I turned away from Morgan and Roland just as Olivia walked through the front doors of the school. Her eyes locked onto mine instantly and we both smiled at each other. I stepped forward in her direction but was halted in my tracks as the other members of her band ran up to her, shifting her attention away from me. Gwen, Linda and Sarah pulled her back outside in a hurry. One of the girls insisted Olivia check out the new sound system in her car, or something. It happened so fast that I barely heard all the details.
    Roland tried to ease my worries. “You know, Luc, Olivia had the worst time while you were…umm…away.”
    “She was just worried about her little sister,” I pouted.
    “Yeah, but she never gave up on you.”
    “Really?” I asked, softly.
    Nodding my way, a goofy smile ripped across Roland’s face. “And neither did he.”
    “Huh…” It was all I managed to get out before I was engulfed in a wall of muscle and blonde hair. Taylor had run up behind me and scooped my average frame up in the air in a massive bear hug.
    “Lucas!” he shouted. Three powerful shakes later he set me back down and spun me his way.
    “Big Country!” I teased. He cocked his head sideways at his hated nickname. “I’m just messing around, T.”
    “I know.” Quickly, he diverted his attention to a wide-eyed Morgan and scooped her up. “Morning, Morgan.”
    “Good morning, Tay,” she cooed back, before she lifted herself up on the tip of her toes and kissed him slowly and sweetly. Roland turned from the public display of affection. He was proud that his sister and good friend had been dating, but he still refused to watch it.
    “Well, things may be a bit off with Olivia and I, but it’s good to see you two are still going strong,” I smiled toward Morgan. She blushed and slid her hand inside Taylor’s. “What have I missed in my absence?”
    “You and Olivia? Are you two okay?” Morgan asked, politely ignoring my question.
    “I don’t know. It doesn’t matter…” I trailed off.
    “Not so fast, Luc, we all need an official update. What happened to you? How’d you get back? Details, we need details!” Taylor joked. During my eventful homecoming yesterday, my parents grounded me and that meant no visitors and no calls in or out. I knew my friends would have a thousand questions.
    “Yeah, spill it,” Morgan added, eagerly. I looked around us to make sure there wasn’t any prying eyes. I leaned into my small circle of friends and felt safe. My right forearm began to tingle and I carefully brought it up and into the middle of the circle for them to witness my newest trick. The dark lines started to glow below all our eyes when the school’s bell rang with the tone of a incoming announcement.
    “What gives? We still have like five minutes before the first bell,” Roland grumbled.
    “Shhh! It must be important!” Morgan cut him off. We all turned our eyes to the closest speaker bolted to the wall.
     
    “ATTENTION ALL FACULTY AND STUDENTS. A MANDATORY ASSEMBLY WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE SCHOOL’S AUDITORIUM IN FIVE MINUTES. NO EXCEPTIONS. THANK YOU.”
     
    “Assembly?” I asked, out loud.
    Roland and Morgan spoke in unison, “Weird.”
    “Agreed,” I whispered. My arm returned to normal but a faint itching sensation creeped below my skin. It felt as if Ripley was uneasy. I tried to ignore it.
    “I wonder what’s going on?” Taylor inquired.
    “I guess my story will have to wait until lunchtime.” I smacked Taylor on his large back and hurried to my locker to put my backpack away.
    Two minutes later I found myself tucked into my seat at the back of the auditorium. Roland sat next to me surfing the web on his touchscreen tablet, furiously looking for any hint at what this impromptu assembly might have in store for us. His conspiracy theory paranoia loved this kind of stuff. Taylor and Morgan sat snugly together a few rows in front of us. As Roland wildly