The Grave Keepers by Elizabeth Byrne

Author:Elizabeth Byrne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2017-08-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

AS ATHENA SAT AT ROXANNA AND HER FRIENDS’ LUNCH table over the next couple days, she still felt wary of their sudden interest in her. Roxanna sent up a timid flare just before math, though Athena could have hallucinated it. Stress was high that day thanks to rumors about a pop quiz in math. (A pop quiz the first week of school!) Athena sat at her desk, nervously chewing her ring fingernail, restraining herself from biting all the way through. In walked Roxanna, just as the bell went off. Across the heads of people kneeling in their chairs, exchanging homework pages, while Dana Andrek sharpened not one but three pencils, Roxanna crossed the room and ever so casually jutted her chin toward Athena. If Athena hadn’t already been looking at her, she would’ve missed it. She raised her hand and dropped it without waving, as though someone had called her name for attendance.

The official invitation had come at lunch that day—the third consecutive lunch period Athena had spent at that table, not that she was counting (but she was). While the other three were deep in conversation about the rumor that Katie Somerset was hooking up with the girls’ lacrosse coach, Roxanna turned to Athena and said, “We usually get something to eat right after school. You busy today? I know it’s a school night.”

Slowly, like the opposite of a stammer, Athena replied, “I’m not busy.” She regained consciousness enough to stipulate, “I have to be home by six, though. My parents’ friends are coming over for dinner.” It was a solid-gold lie. Roxanna bought it, with sympathy, so Athena put her plan into action. Step one: call her mom from Roxanna’s cell phone with an excuse about volunteering to help Mrs. Adelaide paint the new mural in the science wing. Step two: meet Roxanna at her locker after the last bell. Step three, much later: get dropped back off at school to pick up her bike and head home as if it were the most ordinary Thursday and not in fact the first time she would be riding around in Roxanna Dover’s car along with Roxanna’s closest friends.

And so, come 2:35 p.m., Athena and the four girls walked the long hallway toward the chorus room and the exit to the student parking lot. Athena had to keep ducking behind them to allow oncoming traffic to pass by, but she was still very much with them. It was obvious, she was sure. Athena’s backpack weighed forty pounds between her math and history books alone. Roxanna breezed into the warm afternoon with only her oversized leather shoulder bag; Lindsay carried an iridescent clutch. Jordan and Nicole each had a backpack that seemed more for appearances than actual function; they looked practically empty.

At Roxanna’s car, Lindsay opened the passenger door and flipped the seat up for access to the backseat, so casual, like it was second nature to her. Nicole climbed in behind the driver, then Jordan waved Athena on. She

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