Read Minutes Before Sunset for Free Online

didn’t want them thinking I was eavesdropping, but, then again, I was halfway across the room.
    “Some family friend,” Robb said. “She’s always around him; it’s weird.”
    “Maybe they’re dating,” Jess said, and I cringed, fighting the urge to shake my head. Gross.
    Crystal laughed hysterically, covering her mouth to smother the sound. “They’re definitely not dating. I already looked into it for a possible rumor piece, and there’s no way.”
    “Then why would he only talk to her?” Jess asked, and Crystal inhaled, her breath whizzing past her lip piercing.
    “She’s been stuck on him since his mother died,” she said.
    Robb huffed. “Both of them lived with me for a while after, but we were just kids.”
    “What happened?” Jess asked, dropping her voice.
    Crystal’s nails ran along the lab desk. “Have you heard of Hayworth Park?” Jessica didn’t respond, and Crystal sighed. “Of course not.”
    I heard her shift in her chair, and I knew the group was staring at me again. “His mother committed suicide there, and his father bought the land afterward,” Crystal explained. “He shut the whole thing down; he won’t let anybody in.”
    Jessica gasped, and I couldn’t help but turn around. Her blue eyes met mine, and she turned away, completely scarlet. “Why?” she asked, not specifying whether she was asking about my mother’s suicide or my father’s actions.
    “Because he wants us to be miserable like him?” Crystal guessed, choosing which way the conversation would go. “Who knows? He’s crazy.”
    “But what does his father have to do with him?” Jess asked, and I gripped my legs beneath the table. No one had asked that before . Instead, they looped us together, and I didn’t stand a chance.
    “I guess he doesn’t,” Crystal said, allowing her words to linger. “But Eric doesn’t have the best track record with sanity either.”
    Robb’s chair scraped against the tile floor as he pushed it against Jess’ desk. “When we were freshman, Eric was dating this girl—Hannah Blake—right?” he began, and my entire body froze. No one talked about it. Not even me.
    “Well,” Robb continued. “She was in a car wreck with him and died. He walked away scot free.”
    “And,” Crystal added. “The accident happened under suspicious circumstances.”
    Jess held her breath and whispered, “What kind of suspicious circumstances?”
    “Hell if I know,” Crystal said, hitting the desk. “Suspicious is enough for me.”
    “It should be for you too, Jess,” Robb said, and Ms. Hinkel cleared her throat, glaring in their direction.
    “Are you all done or should I wait?”
    They apologized, and I zoned out as all the students rushed to their new lab assignments. I didn’t need to move. I was already in my spot.
    The chair next to me scraped back, and Jess sat down, tossing her bag onto the table. Her cheeks were red, and I could practically hear her nervous heart beating. “Hi,” she said, turning briefly toward me to smile. “I’m Jess.”
    She offered her hand for a handshake, and I pushed my chair against the wall. “I heard your name when Ms. Hinkel assigned you,” I said, opening the chemistry book left on my desk from the previous period. I was not interested in small talk.
    “Right,” Jess said, letting her hand fall into her lap. She had small hands. “So, Eric—”
    “Call me Welborn.” Even though you stood up for me, I am not your friend.
    She nodded, raising her brow. “If that’ll make things easier for you, Welborn, then fine.”
    I fought a grin. At least she had attitude.
    She adjusted her chair, and my eyes shot to the class clock. “So, Welborn—”
    Ring. Ring.
    Lunchtime. Right on time.
    I rushed out of the classroom to the outside lunchroom as quickly as I could. I did not need to talk to Jessica Taylor. She’d give up trying soon enough. Everyone did.
    I climbed up the hill and leaned against the willow tree, placing my hands behind my