Read The 13th: Destiny Awaits for Free Online Page B

crossed her arms, the dark blue sparkling nail polish stark against the soft pink of the frilly dress she wore over black skinny jeans.
    Kate furrowed her brows, not quite understanding why Sandra was asking her this. Did she really expect her to answer?
    “Who is he?” Sandra repeated, shoving her fist against the door of Kate's locker. The door slammed against the frame.
    Kate withdrew her fingers just before the door would have pinched them. Sandra never missed an opportunity to insult her, but she had never attempted bodily harm before. Kate took a deep breath. As her now deceased great-aunt liked to say, “Troubles come in droves.”
    “If you don't tell me, Ervin is going to start bothering you more often.”
    Ervin? Who was Ervin? Kate asked herself. Oh, yeah, that was the name of that guy who enjoyed bumping into her. But what did he have to do with Sandra? Was there a connection between him being Sandra's admirer and his bullying her? It seemed so.
    “Did you hear me?”
    Kate didn't want to give Sandra the impression that the girl had managed to frighten her, because that wouldn't be true. The only thing Sandra had managed to do was to disturb her, irritate her and upset her, which posed the question: Was keeping Ethan’s identity to herself worth Sandra's harassment? And what would happen to Ethan after Sandra learned who he was? Maybe she was going to stalk him like she did Tyler before they started dating. That would probably annoy Ethan. At that thought, Kate's lips wanted to curve upwards, and the colourful smears at the corners of her eyes that had been threatening to spread instead withdrew. “He's Mandy Hill's brother.”
    She gave a sigh at the stupid expression on Sandra's face. “The one with the thick, dorky glasses. He always wears hoodies, even in class if the teachers let him.” At Sandra's blank face, Kate continued. “The one you insulted just yesterday in the hallway -- what did you call him?”
    “No.” Sandra's eyes widened.
    “Yes.” Kate nodded and closed the locker, locking it. She gave Sandra a lift of her brow and a small shake of her head, before she strolled into her next class, feeling rather smug. Her day had just become a little brighter.
    She had thought that Sandra would have started hunting Ethan at lunch, but he perched behind the desk across from her, chatting with Tyler and looking quite undisturbed. It seemed that Sandra wouldn’t pursue him now that she had learned about his school day disguise. Of course, Sandra was all about popularity. It was a shame, really.
    Kate leaned her back against the chair and hooked her arms over the back, her gaze sliding over the shelves of books. And here she was, looking forward to seeing Ethan flustered. If he could even get flustered. He always looked so calm and unaffected by anything.
    She peeked at the girl who was browsing through a textbook beside her and poked her with her finger.
    “Hey,” Mandy gave her a smile.
    “Those two --” Kate tilted her head in the boys’ direction “-- get along quite well, don't they?”
    Mandy leaned closer and whispered, “Too well, if you ask me.”
    “What are you two whispering about?” Ethan asked.
    “Nothing. Nothing.” Mandy waved her hand before her face. Another one of the gestures she had brought from Japan. Kate found it cute, just like when Mandy pointed at her nose to say ‘you mean me?’ instead of at her chest.
    “Kate.” Ethan rested his elbows on the table. “I hope you’re not complaining about us keeping you company again?”
    “I wasn’t complaining, I just asked why you are all here.”
    “So you don't feel neglected,” Ethan said. “I would hate for you to feel neglected.”
    Mandy touched Kate's shoulder. “You don't mind me here, do you?”
    “No, of course not.” Kate wrapped her hand around Mandy's. How could she mind Mandy's quiet presence?
    “You know, after that time, I would have never thought we would be sitting together like this,”