Read Online The Form of Things Unknown by Robin Bridges - Free Book Online

on. The car smells nice. Like pizza and Lucas’s cologne. “But what about what Mrs. Green said?”
    â€œNatalie, how much did you drink tonight?”
    Damn. “It’s not the alcohol. I wasn’t drinking when I saw the person behind the curtains a few days ago.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?”
    I sigh. Part of me feels like I can talk to Lucas. Because he was at Winter Oaks, too, and like it or not, there’s got to be some sort of psych patient bond. But the other part of me says no, I’m not sick anymore. And I don’t want Lucas to think of me that way. Don’t mention the hospital, Nat. Don’t mention the antipsychotics.
    â€œOn the day of the auditions, I saw something behind the stage. I thought it was a person, but it disappeared into thin air. Mrs. Green told Colton the place is haunted, so I thought I might have seen the ghost.”
    â€œHave you seen this ghost again?”
    I shake my head. “But tonight I could feel something on that stage with us. Could you feel anything strange? Did the hair on the back of your neck stand up?”
    â€œNot really. But then again, I’m not always an observant person.” He’s frowning again as he turns onto my street.
    I can’t believe he remembers my address from the pizza delivery last week. Maybe he’s noticed me after all?
    â€œNatalie, does your brother know you’re seeing ghosts? Have you told your parents?”
    Lucas thinks I’m hallucinating. The warm fluttery feeling in my chest suddenly turns cold and hard.
    â€œNo, because I know what they’ll think. And I don’t want them worrying. They’ll pull me out of the play, and I can’t stay cooped up in this house all summer.” He’s parked behind my dad’s car on the side of the street. “Besides, David does know. And he believes me.”
    I don’t mean for that to sound hurtful or accusing, but somehow it makes Lucas sigh. I wait for him to say something like, “I believe you, too, Natalie,” or possibly, “I’m madly in love with you, Natalie,” but of course he doesn’t. Because that would be ridiculous. So I open the door and get out.
    Out of the corner of my eye, I see him reach for me. But then he pulls his arm back and it’s too late. “See you tomorrow,” he says, putting both hands back on the steering wheel. “Take care.”
    â€œThanks for the ride home,” I whisper, wishing I hadn’t been so quick to hop out. Wishing the ride had lasted a little bit longer. Even when he’s accusing me of hallucinating and being a lunatic, Lucas is really a nice guy.
    Who deserves a nice, sane girl. One without issues. I have to keep reminding myself of that. “See you,” I say.
    He waits until I unlock our front door before driving off. I walk inside to find I’m in the middle of an onslaught. Grandma has literally backed herself into a corner in the living room and is screaming at my mom for stealing her notebooks.
    â€œWhat have you done with them?” she shrieks. Lord, the neighbors can probably hear her. “You think you’re so smart, stealing all of my thoughts. You think if you turn them in to the police they’ll put me in prison and you’ll be rid of me.”
    â€œJudith,” my mom begs, in a totally non-confrontational way, “I didn’t take your notebooks. I’m not giving anything to the police.”
    â€œYou want this house all to yourself, but that will never happen. I’m never going to die, sweetheart.”
    The way Grandma calls my mother “sweetheart” sounds malicious. Mom sees me in the foyer and tries to distract Grandma. But I’m drawn into the drama anyway.
    â€œYou’re on her side, too,” Grandma says accusingly when she sees me. “You think she’ll take care of you when you lose your mind? Ha!”
    Mom looks like she’s about to