Read Online The Cupid War by Timothy Carter - Free Book Online Page B

with Trina on this one. Universal force for good.”
    â€œThanks, Lucy,” said the girl in faded clothing, offering a shy smile. She played absently with her shoulder-length hair.
    â€œSo I’ve heard from everyone except you two,” Cynthia said, pointing at Ryan and Susan. “What’ve you got for me?”
    Before Ryan could answer, Susan picked up her lunch and stood up.
    â€œI … have to go,” she said, and she turned and walked away quickly.
    â€œOh, man,” said Ryan.
    â€œDid we offend her?” asked Lucy.
    â€œLike that’d be hard,” muttered the blond boy in black pants.
    â€œBrad!” said Lucy. “That’s not nice.”
    â€œMaybe,” the blond boy replied. “But it’s true.”
    â€œI’d better go check on her,” Ryan said, rising slowly to his feet.
    â€œNo!” Fallon jumped up and stepped in front of him. “No, you stay here if you know what’s good for you!” He automatically held up his hands to block Ryan, then remembered he was insubstantial in this world.
    â€œWho said that?” Trina asked, her head snapping up.
    â€œWho said what?” Ryan asked, stopping.
    â€œThat’s right, stay here,” Fallon said. “Do not go with that human leech.”
    â€œThere it is again!” said Trina. “A voice! He called Susan a le ech.”
    â€œWhat?” said Fallon, turning to look at her.
    â€œCome on, who said that?” Trina glanced from friend to friend.
    â€œI didn’t,” said Peter.
    â€œWasn’t me,” said Brad.
    â€œTrina, are you hearing things again?” Cynthia asked.
    Oh yes she is, Fallon thought. She heard me loud and clear. This could be useful.
    And Ryan stayed! He sat back down again, though he did look nervously in the direction Susan had gone. Maybe my comments actually reached him, Fallon thought. Or mayb e Ryan’s just better at denying her than I was. Either way, he might just stand a chance.

11
    F allon remained with the group of teens for the rest of the lunch hour, but he said no more. He didn’t want to freak the girl out, not if he was going to ask for her help later.
    From what he could gather from the group, this wasn’t the first time Trina had heard voices. First she’d confided only in Cynthia, then the rest of them.
    Fallon also learned that the group didn’t much like Susan, either.
    â€œDon’t know who your invisible guy is, Trina,” said Peter, “but he got Susan’s number, all right.”
    â€œTotally,” added Brad.
    â€œYou guys … ” said Lucy, but only half-heartedly.
    â€œShe has a lot of problems,” Ryan said. “She doesn’t make friends easily.”
    She told you that too, did she? Fallon thought.
    â€œRemember,” Ryan added, “she only transferred here a couple weeks ago. She wanted to get away from her old school because her best friend there committed suicide.”
    â€œOh,” Brad said. “Oh, man.”
    â€œThat poor girl,” Cynthia added.
    So that’s why she’s here, Fallon thought. I wonder who that friend was, who killed himsel f ? The only person she was friends with was … oh, right.
    â€œSo, Trina,” Peter asked, “is that voice guy still around?” He said it with what Fallon knew to be a patronizing smile. Not a believer, it seemed.
    â€œI can’t hear anything,” Trina said. “Look, I’m sorry I mentioned it. Let’s talk about something else, okay?”
    They did. Fallon watched them, and as he did so he made contact with their hearts. No sense wasting a good opportunity, right? He checked out Peter first, and learned he had a thing for Lucy. She was sitting next to him, which was a good sign, but when Fallon touched Lucy’s heart he found no interest for Peter. Indeed, she didn’t seem interested in anyone in the group.
    Fallon moved on. Brad was open