Ultraviolet by R. J. Anderson

Author:R. J. Anderson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: Social Issues, Emotions & Feelings, Emotional Problems, Extraterrestrial Beings, Juvenile Fiction, Paranormal, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Fiction, Emotional Problems of Teenagers, Science Fiction, Depression & Mental Illness, General, Synesthesia
ISBN: 9780761374084
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab
Published: 2011-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

. . .

“Hey.”

I looked up from the book in my hands to find Kirk standing over me. His eyes had lost some of yesterday’s fevered brilliance, but his grin remained a disturbing fraction of an inch too wide.

“Did you miss me?” he asked as he kicked off his shoes, flung himself down on the other end of the library sofa, and dropped his feet into my lap.

“Dirty socks and all,” I said, pushing his feet off again. “Where did you go?”

The question came out more baldly than I’d intended, but Kirk didn’t hesitate. “With my mom and her fat loser boyfriend, to start. Then Porkface threw a party for his biker friends and the police came in and cleaned the place out. Mom went off to detox, and I got farmed out to some creepy born-again family who made me go to church with them. Seriously, acting crazy was the only way I could think of to get a break.”

Judging by the taste, at least half that story was pure fabrication. I wondered which half, and why. “So you . . . what? Pretended to be possessed?”

“No, I lit their dog on fire.”

I stared at him.

Kirk whooped with laughter. “You went for it! Oh, man, that’s beautiful.”

“Ha,” I said dryly.

“I love to hear the sizzle when it hits their skin,” he went on, widening his eyes like a demented scientist in an old sci-fi movie. “Yip yip yip yip yip—”

“That’s disgusting,” I said, but only because I knew it was expected, and probably the only way to get him off the subject. “So how long are you back for?”

“I dunno. Until they figure out I’m wasting the taxpayers’ money and kick me out again. What have you been up to? Still letting Dr. Fairly-Gay pick your brains?”

“No, he’s been giving me fashion advice,” I said.

“You like him, don’t you? You think he’s sexy.”

I was speechless.

“Sure you do. You and your kinky old guy thing.” Kirk snickered, then abruptly turned serious again. “So what about me, huh? I’m sexy too.”

This was not a conversation I wanted to have. I cast an imploring glance at the library door, but although I caught a faint scent of voices in the hallway, there were no aides in sight. Why was it that when I wanted to be left alone the staff interrupted me every few minutes, but when I could actually use some help, they were all busy?

“I’ve been thinking,” said Kirk, sliding over and slinging his arm around my shoulders. I stiffened, but he only gripped me tighter as he went on, “You and me, we’re the only sane people in this place. We should get together.”

Sandwiched between his wiry body and the end of the sofa, I couldn’t move. “Okay, I get it,” I said. “You’re hilarious. Do you mind? I’m getting squashed here.”

“I’m not even joking.” He leaned closer, his breath scalding my cheek. “So what if I’m younger than you. I’m not a kid. I’ve done stuff you probably never even heard of.

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