Read Secrets of the Sleeper: True Nature Series: Book One for Free Online

awesome!”
    The warning bell rang. Isaac was smiling widely, clearly aware of his effect on us. I hated that he made me feel like a slow, gawky girl. And there was something that didn’t feel right about it, anyway. Ruthie grabbed my arm and started pulling. I narrowed my eyes at him and let her drag me away.
    “We’ll catch up with you guys at lunch if we don’t have any classes with you before then. Let’s compare schedules!”
    She started running, and I took off with her, my backpack slapping against my back in our rush. We both had Mr. Pham’s Algebra II class first period.
    Mr. Pham was writing on the board as we hurried in just as the bell rang, trying to be nonchalant about our lateness. We found two seats next to each other on the far side and slid into them just as he put down his marker.
    Ruthie pulled out her binder and scribbled on a piece of paper. She passed it to me.
    I read her hasty scribbles. What the hell ham hocks was that all about? I looked up at her and just shrugged. She snagged back the note, ran her pencil across it, and slipped it back to me. He still likes you!
    I wasn’t one for getting in trouble in class and didn’t want to risk the teacher’s wrath the first day by passing notes. So I just mouthed “later” to her, slipped the note into my binder, and turned my attention to the teacher. Besides, my reaction to Isaac bothered me. That had just been weird.

 
     
    Blue Eyes
     
    Ruthie and I didn’t have any classes together for the rest of the day. We had already compared our schedules over the weekend. I knew most of the kids in my classes, but they didn’t seem to recognize me. The guys looked me over with interest, the girls with curiosity, at least until my name was called for attendance. Then people really looked at me. They stared and whispered. Awkward. My attempt at “normal” didn’t seem to be working out this year. With each ensuing class, I shrank deeper and deeper into my seat, hoping to get the day over as fast as possible. I practically ran from my Physics class. I headed out the door and planned to keep walking until I walked through my front door, but something turned me toward the quad, where everyone hung out for lunch. It made me pause enough to rethink my situation.
    Dad would probably make me see the shrink if I skipped school today. With a resigned sigh, I changed my mind and decided to stake out the usual table Ruthie and I liked, near a large maple tree. I was early and the tables were still unoccupied, so I thought I could “lose it” for a second without anyone noticing. I slammed down on the bench and leaned over onto the table.
    “Freakin’ stupid school!” I exclaimed into my arms.
    “Wow. And the day’s only half over,” said a low voice.
    There was that feeling again, like a warm current of air on a cold day. Now I knew exactly where it was coming from. I sat up straight and glared toward the tree trunk. Sure enough, someone was lounging at its base, backpack next to him. He crunched into an apple. Great. A witness to my latest meltdown. Thank goodness I hadn’t started crying. The guy stood up, out of the shade, and took two strides to my table, sitting down next to me with his body pointing away from the table, elbows on the table behind him.
    Okay. As bugged as I was that he had eavesdropped on my misery, there was no stopping the sudden thumping of my heart as I took inventory; I seemed helpless to do anything else at that moment.
    Dark chestnut hair and blue eyes, dark blue eyes. His hair was thick and just long enough to curl at the ends, flipping up near the part on the side of his head. His straight nose, only marred by the slightest bump, ended at a masculine point over—can I just say—the most perfect mouth, the type of mouth you see on Greek statues. A wave of familiarity swept over me. Had we met before? Oh man, it was probably last year when I was so out of it.
    “Sorry if I scared you.” He was starting to look