The Crystal Bridge (The Lost Shards Book 1) by Charlie Pulsipher Page B

had stabbed her several times trying to find a vein before drawing six or seven vials. Doubt they’ll find anything. Something happened that she didn’t think was medical, something that had never happened before.
Kaden’s secrets remained his own . A thrill ran down Aren’s spine at the thought. Her heart beat faster in her ears and she heard it echoed back to her from the machine to her left. Mysteries survive in this world after all . Who knew?
Snow Canyon only had a small hospital, so her room felt tiny and cramped, but at least the nurses and doctors had finally left her in peace. Aren wrinkled her nose at the faint smell of urine and cleansers that permeated the whole building. Yuck.
She hadn’t told the doctors much about what had happened. “I felt sick, stood up, and woke up in the nurse’s office,” she’d told them. That’s all they need to know. Let them pin it on fatigue, stress, lack of sleep, or not enough food . She hadn’t dared say anything about Kaden, mirrors, or her horrible nightmare.
She pulled the thin sheets around her tighter. Thoughts of the dream left her feeling cold and naked. She knew it wasn’t real, but she also couldn’t shake the feeling of certainty that Kaden had helped her through it. The school nurse had told her he’d been in the room during the seizure.
Seizure? Still crazy I had a freaking seizure. At school too! What would have happened if he hadn’t been there? She shuddered as she remembered her helplessness. That freaky, floating, octopus-eyed Tracyesque head wanted to eat me.
Just a dream, she kept telling herself. Just a dream.
The appearance of her mother’s face in the doorway still gave her a start. Her mom didn’t notice and smiled sweetly at her helpless daughter.
Aren smiled back. She knew her mom liked to feel needed. It’s sweet…and obnoxious.
“Hi, Mom.”
“You have friends to see you, dear.”
Aren expected to see her chatterbox friend, Tracy, step through the wide doorway, but Kaden’s arrival was a surprise. She’d thought she’d have a day or two before she’d have to face him. Crap.
Warmth spread through her body and crept up her veins into her face. What the? I don’t blush . The sheets separating her from this newcomer felt thin as vapor. She pulled them higher, more aware of her near nakedness in the small gown underneath. She frowned and tried to bury her blush with feigned anger.
“Mom, I thought you said friends ?” She directed the last part at Kaden. “I don’t know you!” It came out angrier than she’d meant.
He looked down at his feet and blushed a little himself.
Serves you right for putting me here. The thought shocked Aren. Where did that come from? Some boy shows up and I end up in the hospital. Is it his fault? It just might be.
“Aren!” Tracy’s hands shook and white lined her lips. “Kaden carried you down the hallway all by himself.”
“Not all by myself,” Kaden chimed in.
“Shut up, Kaden. I’m defending you.” Tracy turned back to Aren. “And he kept you from falling off the table and cracking your skull open when you did your best exorcist impression. So be nice!”
“That part’s true,” Kaden agreed.
“Shut it.”
“Sorry.”
“He then came back and calmed us all down, letting us know you were alright.”
Aren sighed. Tracy could be a pain sometimes, but she was also right. Aren just wasn’t ready to let her know that yet. “Tracy, it’s been a weird day. I’m tired and my head feels like it’s been chewed on from the inside by angry gremlins. I don’t want to argue with you, but he can’t just go around saying he’s my friend when it isn’t true.”
“Should be true. He carried you. He came to visit you in the hospital. He brought a card he made. He’s being friendly, isn’t he? You, on the other hand, are not.”
Kaden shoved a crumpled up paper into his pocket and chimed in again. “No. Aren’s right. I should go.”
Tracy’s hand snaked out and took his wrist. “No!”