Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 71967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“He’s cute and young,” Mom answers. “Especially for a teacher.”
“Ew, Mom. I hadn’t noticed,” I shrug, nonchalantly and she gives me a look like she doesn’t believe me, because clearly, I’m not blind.
“You know, when I was in high school this girl had such a crush on our English teacher,” she adds. “And-”
“Mom, I do not have a crush on Mr. Harrington,” I interrupt her.
“And,” she gives me a look, not appreciating my intrusion. “She ended up marrying him years later, imagine that!”
“That’s so gross. Why would you even tell me that?!”
“I was just saying because he is cute. Naturally I don’t mean anything by it, Luci,” she shakes her head. “Geez, what’s wrong with you?” She gives me another look, and I shrug. “Anyway, Mr. Harrington says the extra tutoring sessions are really helping.”
Oh yes, they definitely are.
“Ugh, yeah,” I fake annoyance before getting up. “Anyway, I’m going to bed, night!”
I’m running late this morning, after having to wait extra long for the car to defrost. I barely step on the brake as I pull up to Chloe’s house, and she’s waiting outside for me impatiently.
“I think you have a crush on Mr. Harrington.” It’s the first thing she says as soon as she gets in the car, and I’m caught off guard. It’s so random.
“I do not,” I defend.
“You so do,” Gracie pipes up from the backseat, and I shoot her a look. The last thing I need is for her to bring up the time she heard me call his name out that one night. She shuts her mouth immediately, as she should, since I never told Mom about Derek.
It’s the first time I actually look at Gracie in forever, and I notice the clumped on makeup and short skirt. She doesn’t even look like herself. Mom would have never let her walk out of the house like this, but now that she works at the store, she’s not home when we leave, or come home.
“You just spend a lot of time with him,” Chloe interrupts my scrutinizing.
“Because I want to do well? You know how science is my worst subject,” I retort. “And I stay after school all the time for math, but no one accuses me of having a crush on Mrs. Stalling.”
I pull into my spot, annoyed.
“I’m telling you this as a friend. A lot of people in class are starting to talk.”
“Like who?” I realize I’m jumping down Chloe’s throat, but I don’t care. I hear the door slam as Gracie gets out of the car, and I’m busy staring at her in the rearview mirror as she heads into school.
“Like Kyle and his friends,” Chloe states. “Ashley said something to me the other day too.”
“Okay, well when I start caring about what any of those people think, I’ll let you know,” I’m still trying to see where Gracie went, but I can’t find her in the crowd of people. “Lock the door when you get out.”
I hop out of the car and slam my door, trying to catch up with Gracie, all while pushing Chloe’s words to the back of my mind.
“What’s the rush?” Mr. Harrington asks as I pass by his office. “No hello?”
“Sorry,” I’m walking backwards as I answer. “I’m trying to find my sister.”
“Well I saw your assault victim down over by the English hallway earlier,” he offers. “Is everything-”
“Thanks,” I smile. “See you at lunch!”
I spot Derek making out with Gracie next to some lockers, exactly where Mr. Harrington said he was. Only, as I get closer, a ping of fear hits me as I realize it’s not Gracie he’s kissing, but her friend, Catie.
Everything happens at once. My eyes dart from them to across the hall. I see Gracie, watching them. Her face falls before she lets out a loud shriek, causing everyone to look her way. She turns around and runs.
“Shit,” I mumble before going after her, pushing through the horde of people. I see the tail end of her heading into the bathroom, and by the time I walk in she’s crunched on the floor, already puffy-faced from crying.
“Gracie, are you okay?” I throw my bag on the gross floor and squat down beside her.
“I don’t want to hear it,” she croaks.
“Hear what?”
“That you told me so.”
“Okay,” I sit down next to her, not caring how disgusting it is.
“I thought Catie was my friend.”
“I know,” I bite my lip.
“I gave him everything, Luci,” she whispers. “I can never get it back.”
I wipe my own tear that escapes, my heart breaking for my little sister. She turns to me and cries, soaking my shirt. And I let her, as I wrap my arms around her, her eye makeup leaving a stain.
“Do you want me to take you home?” I stand, offering my hand to help her up. She stands, fallimg into me, knocking me back with her bear hug.