The Healing Power of Sugar: The Ghost Bird Series: #9 (The Academy Ghost Bird Series)

by Stone, C. L.

“You’re freezing,” Kota said with a chuckle, though his eyes were concerned. “Your lips are turning blue. You need to get warm.”

  As I stood still in the kitchen, hesitating, I touched my lips. The sprint here and fear were warding off the cold, but that wasn’t the point. I pressed my lips together, secretly hoping whoever was in that bathroom would finish quickly. There wasn’t an argument I could make that would make sense.

  I could wash myself in the sink, but wouldn’t he notice if I never turned the shower on?

  Before I could say anything, Kota moved ahead of me to the hallway bathroom. He opened the door, turning on the light, looking at the fog on the mirror. “Someone’s been in here already,” he said. “Hopefully there’s some hot water left.”

  I stood in the doorway, holding myself together as Kota got a towel from the linen closet. “Go find some clothes so you can change,” he said.

  I escaped to the bedroom, finding some breathing space as I searched in Nathan’s closet. Not a big deal. So I’d go into the bathroom, wait until Kota’s distracted and wash up in the sink. I pressed a hand to my chest, over my heart beating rapidly against my ribs. I searched for clothes that would be appropriate to wear today since it was colder. I found a pair of cotton black slacks and a large sweater that would fall over my hips and grabbed underwear and a bra.

  I dropped all of the clothes at the sound of the shower turning on in the bathroom.

  “Sang!” Kota called out to me. “Hurry up. I’m getting the water ready.”

  I gasped in panic. I bent over, picking up the clothes with shaking hands, hugging them to my body so I wouldn’t drop them again.

  But I couldn’t stand up. I remained frozen in fear, knees bent, head down, eyes closed. The patter of water spray hitting the shower tiles echoing in my head, all I could hear.

  Telling myself to calm down, I tried to talk myself into moving. I could go into the bathroom. I had gone in before with Nathan when he thought he might be hurt. I didn’t have to actually go into the shower stall. The water didn’t have to touch me.

  “Sang?” Kota called, his voice louder.

  I forced myself to stand, to suck in some air and draw some courage. Don’t look at the shower. Just walk in and face the sink.

  ABOUT C. L. STONE

  Certification

  Marvelour of Wonder

  Active Participant of Scary Situations

  Official Member of F.A.M.E.

  Experience

  Spent an extraordinary number of years with absolutely no control over the capping of imagination, fun, and curiosity. Willingly takes part in impossible problems only to come up with the most ludicrous solution. Due to unfortunate circumstances, will no longer experience feeling on a small spot on my left calf.

  Skills

  Secret Keeper | Occasion Riser | Barefoot Walker Strange Acceptance | Magic Maker | Restless Reckless | Gravity Defiant | Fairy Tale Reader | Story Maker-Upper | Amusingly Baffled | Comprehensive Curiousness | Usually Unbelievable

  Table of Contents

  From The Academy Series

  Permanent Marker

  Destinations Unknown

  Tricks and Masks

  Eluded

  Hide and Seek

  Hunting a Spy

  Return to Class

  Upheaval

  Suspension

  Where The Game Changes

  A Date With Luke

  The Perfect Kiss

  The Choice

  Unusual Circumstances

  Thanks

  Giving

  Football

  Games

  Family

  Into The Night

  The Deal

  The Three Amigos Caught In the Act

  Old School Ways

  Unpredicted

  The Road To Recovery

  Sugar Cure

  Where Luke Goes

  ~ A ~

  Books by C. L. Stone

  First Kiss

  First Kiss

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