Read Riser (Teen Horror/Science Fiction) (Book #1 in The Riser Saga) ((Volume 1)) for Free Online Page A

included owning more than one hover-car, landscaping that fudged the “planting a tree every twenty feet” law, free passes to Virtual Reality Bars, just to name a few. And Jill’s favorite teachers always cashed in any chance they could.
Jill gave Joan a look that could kill and made her way toward the exit just as the bell rang for the class to end.
“Is it that time already?” Mr. Alaster seemed disappointed to let us all go. It felt like leaving someone in mid-sentence.
Everyone started getting out of their seats and exited the classroom.
“Wait for her to leave,” Nancy warned me and we pretended to gather our things a little bit more slowly than we normally would. “Okay, she’s gone.”
Everyone had left, including Ryan. I didn’t even want to think about ever seeing him again for fear of dying of embarrassment. Why did I have to open my big mouth?
Nancy and I headed for the door. “Do you like Ryan?” she asked.
I tried my best to act shocked and appalled. “No!”
Nancy laughed out loud. “You totally do! That’s cute.”
“Cute?” I said in exasperated disgust. “More like tragic. Guys like Ryan don’t like girls like me.”
Nancy rolled her eyes and practically guffawed. “Oh, please! Girls like you? Attractive, smart and have a personality? You’re right, you should just give up on guys right now.”
“Easy for you to say. You have money.”
“Ha! I’ll give you some. See how much it makes a difference in your love life.” Nancy smirked.
“Being friends with me is what’s messing up your love life. You may not care about money, but everyone else does,” I said. Which was true though Nancy didn’t like hearing it.
She opened the door and we entered into the crowded halls.
And that’s when I ran straight into…
…Ryan.
I hit his chest full force. How could I not have seen him? How could Nancy not have warned me? That’s when I saw the triumphant smile on her face and knew she did it on purpose. She had angled the door exactly so he’d be out of my view.
“Sorry,” I sputtered.
Ryan actually smiled. I wished he wouldn’t do that. It made my stomach churn in horrible ways.
“No problem. I actually wanted to talk to you for a minute. Can I walk you to class?”
My brain froze. What was that? Say something. Now would be the time to say something.
“She’d love to. Chelsan, I’ll meet you later for lunch, okay?” Then Nancy eyed Ryan with a knowing smile, “Unless you have other plans,” and she was off.
And I was alone. With Ryan. And I couldn’t make myself say a single word.
Ryan’s face seemed almost apologetic as if my silence was a reprimand for something he’d done. “You must think I’m a jerk.”
Really? Nothing? I couldn’t even make something up, like, ‘nice shoes.’ Anything?! It was like my mouth was paralyzed.
“Look. I’m really sorry I started ignoring you after tutoring last year. Jill’s crew made it difficult for me,” Ryan said sheepishly.
What was going on? Was this some sort of horrible prank where I’d start being nice to him and he’d laugh and tell me what a moron I was?
“Are you serious right now?” Wow. I really said that. And I said it so rudely. Ryan looked like I had punched him.
He shook his head and actually looked embarrassed. “You’re right. I’m sorry I bothered you.”
And he started to leave. To leave!
And I was still standing there, like someone had turned me into a statue. Come on! Do something!
“Ryan, wait!” Good. That was good.
Ryan turned around and he actually had hope in his eyes. Real, honest hope.
“I’m not used to people being nice to me,” I said with as much sincerity as I could muster.
Ryan’s face was immediately ridden with guilt. “I’m sorry,” was all he could say.
He said it so sweetly my gut twisted with sympathy. “It’s okay. It’s just that in the past when people have been nice to me, it’s been because Jill put them up to it to humiliate me in some way.”
“I’m sick of Jill