Read Online She Lies Twisted by C.M. Stunich - Free Book Online

was starving, finishing his entire stack of pancakes before I could eat a single slice of bacon. “So,” he began, polishing off his scrambled eggs. “Tell me about yourself.” I stared at him like he was crazy. I had decided I would let him in, make friends, but I wasn't sure if I was really ready. I found myself wanting to make sure he never knew anything about me. He'll just kill himself if he finds out who you are. I shook my head. Negative thoughts like that would get me nowhere but I couldn't seem to help myself. Rainbows and sunshine seemed like a long ways away from the perpetually rainy day I seemed to be having.
    When I didn't answer, he began to babble. “Well, I guess I'll start then since we're going to be working together for awhile.” I continued to pick at my food. “My name is James Douglas Campbell.” He wrinkled his nose. “It doesn't really flow, I know, but my Mom's last name was Campbell and my Dad was a bastard. Douglas was my uncle but I never met him since he died before I was born.” James took a breath and waited, like he was expecting me to jump in at any moment and tell him that Tatum was really my name, not Neil. That O'Neil was my Dad's last name because my Mom wasn't much of a feminist and that I hated the taste of warm Skittles and would only eat them frozen. “My best friend's name was Sydney Bradford and she,” I glanced up sharply. There it was. The sound that had convinced me last night that James could be trusted. Loss. Pain. Hurt. “She got hit by a car and died right in front my eyes and I...” James laid his fork next to his nearly empty plate. “I drove off of a bridge in the middle of winter. It was kind of an accident but not really. I wanted to die.” I choked on my own breath. In his eyes, I saw myself. I saw him grasping for a reason to go on, anything to take the emptiness away. I reached my hand out, unsure if I should say something or remain silent. He looked away for a moment and when he glanced back at me, his eyes were shimmering with the barest hint of unshed tears.
    “ I am totally, crazily, obsessively into xylography, I hate reality shows, and I play the harmonica.” James held up his arms with a smile. “There!” He said, sighing and sagging against the back of his seat. “Now you know everything about me. Your turn.” I smiled.
    “ You would've loved my sister,” I said as I dug into my food with renewed fervor. “She always wanted to date a boy who would play the harmonica for her.”
    Misery loves company.

    After dinner, James and I walked back to the house. I had decided to let him stay there while we got this whole 'indefinite' grim reaper thing sorted out. He had no where else to go and I needed information. For the moment, it was a win-win situation. I was actually starting to feel some of the fog from Boyd's death melting away when I turned the corner onto my street and saw that all of the lights were on. It was weird to see any lights on in our house after seven. Grandma Willa liked to check in early and sleep late. I picked up the pace and motioned for James to hurry up.
    Grandma Willa was standing in the front yard in one of those old fashioned night gowns that old people in the South like to wear. It looked like a white canvas sack to me but I was sure that fashion was the last thing on her mind. If she still had one that is.
    “ Shoo!” She was shouting, flicking her hands at one of the trees that lined the edge of the front yard. “Go on, get out of here!” I put a hand to my forehead and turned to James.
    “ Go ahead and go inside. Wait in the downstairs bedroom for me.” He nodded but didn't move. I raised my eyebrows at him. The neighbors were starting to come out of their houses to stare. It was time to defuse the situation or deal with social services again. The last thing I needed was for some snot nosed social worker to try and place me with the state. James began to drag his feet towards the front door. I decided