Half Dead World: Book One from the Apocalypse Tales by Adrienne Hargrove (little readers txt) 📗

so helpless when he exiled me from his life. I guess I believed him because it was too painful to believe otherwise... But right now, I’m really watching, trying to see the truth. I see his eyes look off to the right for just a second, his full lips pursed and even slight blush across his golden, brown cheekbones. The reality is he has been hurt his whole life. This boy, who is just over six feet tall and muscular, even if he is slightly underweight, is as big as a grown man. But he is filled with fear, sadness, anger, and every other emotion that comes with a lifetime of being mistreated and unloved by the person who should have loved him most.

I wrap my arms around his waist and put my ear to his chest and listen to his strong heartbeat. I feel like I have been punched in the chest and my heart throbs in pain, for not being able to save him from all the hurt inflicted on him. Fin returns the embrace and I know I have my best friend back.

“I will always be your best friend Fin and I will do whatever I can to be there for you. But I have been waiting for years for Jackson to notice me, so please don’t ask me not to go tonight.”

I can hear him sigh and his breath blows through the hair on the crown of my head.

“I don’t know why; I just feel so uneasy about it. Please promise me to be extra careful.”

I smile as I look up at him. “Of course, I will. I was even going to get my dad to bring me.”

Fin shifts me to his side, puts his arm around my shoulder and gives it a little squeeze before dropping his arm down to his side. “Come on, we are going to be the last people in the lunch line, and they will be all sold out of mystery meat.”

As we exit the class, I see Violet giving me a dirty look. “Your girlfriend is giving me the stink eye.”

He looks up surprised, then sees violent and lets out a dark chuckle.

“She is not my girlfriend.”

“She wants to be.”

Fin rolls his eyes. “Only because she doesn’t know I’m trailer trash. She just thinks I would look good sitting next to her in her new Mercedes.”

“First of all, you’re not trailer trash. Second, you are probably right that she wants you as an accessory. However, in her defense, you are easy on the eyes.”

Fin sighs again but can’t keep from smiling a little. “Any way it doesn’t matter. She’s not my type.”

“Yeah, hair black as ebony, skin white as snow, lips red as roses and a perfect body, I can see how that wouldn’t be your type.”

“I’m pretty sure you just described Snow White, not Violet.”

“Well, her dad is as rich as a king, so maybe. Hmm, I wonder if her parents are still married or if she has a stepmom?”

“I’m pretty sure Snow White was a bit nicer, that’s why the huntsman didn’t kill her. So, that kind of eliminates Violet from fairytale princess status.”

“True, she is a supreme bitch.”

My harsh words clearly shock him and make him a little uncomfortable. He may not want her as a girlfriend, but they do hang in the same circle of friends.

“It’s true she can be a little stuck up sometimes, but she’s not a bad person. She is just a product of her environment. I don’t think you need to judge her that harshly.”

I feel the sting of Fin’s disappointment in me, and instantly become defensive.

“Why are you suddenly Violet’s, ally. I thought you weren’t interested in her.”

“I’m not! She is too complicated, and she doesn’t always have a kind temperament…but she is not a horrible person. You can’t judge a book by its cover, or a face by its stink eye.”

He says the last part while chuckling softly and nudging me in the shoulder.

“Well, her cover is beautiful, even with the stink eye, and I have caught her lusting after you with her stare. But I think you deserve someone with a much sweeter temperament.”

I say the last part with Kirra, in mind.

“Well, I hate to break it to you, but my heart belongs to another.” Fin taps his chest dramatically with his fist, and my mouth drops open in shock. “Either way, I don’t think I have the energy to peel through all the layers of onion named Violet.”

“Ha!” My bark of laughter comes out louder than I expected, and Fin rubs his right ear, after which I give him a hard shove and continue. “That is so hilarious! That’s, totally going to be my new nickname for her, the purple onion.”

“You are such a weirdo.”

“No…don’t you get it Violet…purple…onion? It’s funny!”

“Unfortunately, I do get your cheesy humor.”

Fin is still shaking his head as we walk into the cafeteria. As soon as we make it in, I see Kirra, waving us over to her table.

“Come on, Kirra’s got a table for us.”

“Actually, I think I’m going to go sit with the team, after I pick up whatever delightful surprise the cafeteria has in store for me.” Fin says this with heavy sarcasm, then, looks at me again seriously. “Remember your promise to be careful tonight.”

“I promise…but quit your worrying grandpa, I’ll be fine. Nothing is going to happen to me, and I’ll see you tomorrow night at my house for dinner.”

“I’ll be there.” We smile, then head in separate directions.

Chapter Three Shock and Awe

A s soon as my butt hits the seat, I know I’m in for an interrogation. Kirra is practically foaming at the mouth. “What the flux was that?”

I try not to smile because it will only