Page 19 (1/1)
Damn it, why do I let her dictate h school because…hell, I don’t even knohy I tolerated it But we’re not in high school anye, and I should be able to spend ti about what Rah clenched teeth "I have no way of reaching hiinary hook-up partner will get in touch withback to the dorm to work on my paper" My appetite has disappeared I pick up my half-eaten dinner tray and rise to ht college would be different I thought all the gossiping and backstabbing and bullshit ceased to exist once you left high school, but I guess irls can be found at any level of the education syste to see piles of cow shit everywhere, then you’re in for a rude awakening And there’s a good SAT question for you SCHOOL is to MEAN GIRLS as FARMS are to _______
Shit The answer to that is shit
Ramona catches up toon the limestone entrance as she hurries toward me
"Grace, wait"
My jaw tenses as I turn around "What now?"
Panic lights her eyes "Please don’t be pissed at me I hate it when you’re pissed at me"
"Gee, I’m so sorry you’re upset, Ramona What can I do to make you feel better?"
Her bottom lip quivers "You don’t have to be sarcastic I caize"
For fuck’s sake, if she launches into her whole crocodile-tears act, Ithis conversation with you again," I say in a cold voice "I don’t care if you think I’ I know I’m not, and that’s all that matters tothat my best friend since I was six years old believes I--"
"I’ "What?"
Her face collapses as our gazes lock She lowers her voice, then repeats herself "I’ht?"
Hell must have frozen over There’s no other explanation for what I’ Because in thirteen years of friendship, Ra jealous of et with Dean all year," she la year and he doesn’t know I exist, and you just hook up with his best friend without even trying" An oddly vulnerable look softens her features "I’ve been acting like a total bitch and I’m so sorry I was insecure and I took it out on you and that wasn’t fair, but please don’t be angry with me It’s your birthday on Wednesday I want to celebrate with you, and I want us to be good again, and I--"
I interrupt with a sigh "We’re good, Ra so freely through limpse her hopeful expression This is the Rairl who listened to ht ht me how to put on makeup, and threatened to kick the ass of anyone who so ht be self-absorbed and shallow at times, but she’s also fiercely loyal and unbelievably kind when she drops that bad girl bitch act
All the bullshit with Jess and Maya back there still stings, but I can’t bringso trivial
"We’re good," I assure her "I pros her ars the hell out ofJohn Logan did to you this an
I drive to Munsen on Wednesdayfirmly on its usual spot on the super-happy-fun-ti the school year, but sometimes I have no choice Usually it happens if the part-time mechanic at my dad’s shop can’t cover for Jeff when he takes Dad to his doctor’s appointments Today is one of those instances, but I assure es and tune-ups without losing ood war in the garage, so on that first day back, it’s like being sent to the front lines of a war zone My stomach drops and fear pummels into me, as I realize that this will be my life for the next three et soone when I park an and Sons Auto Repair The na as the shop was already called that long before randdad ran the place beforeto sire a lot of strapping h, so technically the place should be called Logan and Son
The shop consists of one s, the interior of which only has rooe doesn’t really i L&S does well enough to cover expenses, alohich sits at the back of the property Growing up, I hated that our house was so close to the shop We used to get woken up in theon our door because their car broke down nearby, or by phone calls fro over a vehicle