“Yeahhh, hanging with Trent sounds way more fun.” While Ariana was busy reading the other flyers, I raised my arm and pointed at the shades. I mouthed the words, Be gone, creatures of darkness! Screeches erupted and they shrank back into the dark corners. I smiled and gave myself a mental pat on the back.
This whole facing my fear thing was starting to work. Well, kind-of. I’d still let Ashley get to me. With words and name-calling. Dumb.
“Shiloh, look at me,” Ariana said. I met her steady blue gaze as she continued. “Girl, you need to live a little. And not through books. When was the last time you had a date?”
I shrugged again and rolled my eyes. “Guys think I’m strange and a bookworm.”
“Yeah, well, hanging out in libraries may improve your mind but won’t get you any dates. I know you like Trent…and I get this odd feeling by the way he was staring at you that he likes you too. So why not go for it?”
Hmm, maybe Ariana is right and I should be more daring. Hook up with a cute boy. And not let the shades rule my life. Or fear.
Just as I had finished talking myself into taking the job, Ariana said, “Then what’s with the worry face? Apply for the damn job. I’ll even help you fill out the application.” She ripped the flyer off the board and ran down the hall before I could protest further.
Hiking my backpack higher on my shoulder, I ran after her. I knew I was going to regret this as I yelled, “Okay, Ari—wait up!”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“So have you invited all your friends to your birthday party yet, dollface? Anyone special coming? Like a boy?” Sitting back, Dad took a sip of beer, the age lines around his mouth and eyes muting his youth with quiet strength. We sat at the dinner table in the kitchen eating meatloaf. Lumpy and dry. Jillian wasn’t the best cook.
I rolled my eyes. “Ugh, get serious. Not talking boys with you.” I pushed the congealed meat around on my plate, still sulking about the embarrassing ghost incident at school. I’d made a fool out of myself in English class, freaking out over a wraith and showering the room with sunshine and claiming I was on the—oh, heck, what kind of committee had I said I was on? Jeez, how lame could I get? Apparently, pretty lame.
“Never mind.” Dad sat back in his chair. “I’m sorry you had to put off the party for a few weeks. You’re a sweetheart to reschedule your party so your grandparents can take the time to get away from the ranch and come see you.”
“I told you, I don’t mind. Honest.” And I didn’t. If delaying my party by a few weeks meant I’d get to see my grandparents, I had no problem. I really wished Aunt Lauren could come, the way she had every year until I’d turned ten. But I knew that was too much to hope for. I’d settle for seeing my grandparents, though. When they wrapped me up in that big group, I didn’t feel so alone.
Dad grinned mischievously. “To make up for it, you may get your wish this year.”
Jillian glanced up from her plate. “Jackson.” She threw Dad a mock glare. “Don’t you dare tell her.”
“What is it? Give me a hint. Pleeease .”
“It’s definitely something you’ve been wanting. So wipe that sullen expression off your face, homeskillet.” Dad leaned across the table and shoveled a large bit meatloaf into his mouth. He was clad in his blue work uniform, a navy cotton shirt with his nametag pinned above his left breast pocket and dark cotton slacks. Since he was a mechanic at Ed’s Car Repairs on Birch Avenue, his attire gave me a good idea at what my present might be.
“A car?” I squealed. “Oh, please, please let it be a car.”
“Don’t you have homework to finish?” Jillian shook her head, tossing her short bob back and forth. “Really, Jackson, you’re such a tease.” In a rare display of affection, she stroked the stubble on his cheek, which made him look like that actor, Oded Fehr.
He chuckled and
This whole facing my fear thing was starting to work. Well, kind-of. I’d still let Ashley get to me. With words and name-calling. Dumb.
“Shiloh, look at me,” Ariana said. I met her steady blue gaze as she continued. “Girl, you need to live a little. And not through books. When was the last time you had a date?”
I shrugged again and rolled my eyes. “Guys think I’m strange and a bookworm.”
“Yeah, well, hanging out in libraries may improve your mind but won’t get you any dates. I know you like Trent…and I get this odd feeling by the way he was staring at you that he likes you too. So why not go for it?”
Hmm, maybe Ariana is right and I should be more daring. Hook up with a cute boy. And not let the shades rule my life. Or fear.
Just as I had finished talking myself into taking the job, Ariana said, “Then what’s with the worry face? Apply for the damn job. I’ll even help you fill out the application.” She ripped the flyer off the board and ran down the hall before I could protest further.
Hiking my backpack higher on my shoulder, I ran after her. I knew I was going to regret this as I yelled, “Okay, Ari—wait up!”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“So have you invited all your friends to your birthday party yet, dollface? Anyone special coming? Like a boy?” Sitting back, Dad took a sip of beer, the age lines around his mouth and eyes muting his youth with quiet strength. We sat at the dinner table in the kitchen eating meatloaf. Lumpy and dry. Jillian wasn’t the best cook.
I rolled my eyes. “Ugh, get serious. Not talking boys with you.” I pushed the congealed meat around on my plate, still sulking about the embarrassing ghost incident at school. I’d made a fool out of myself in English class, freaking out over a wraith and showering the room with sunshine and claiming I was on the—oh, heck, what kind of committee had I said I was on? Jeez, how lame could I get? Apparently, pretty lame.
“Never mind.” Dad sat back in his chair. “I’m sorry you had to put off the party for a few weeks. You’re a sweetheart to reschedule your party so your grandparents can take the time to get away from the ranch and come see you.”
“I told you, I don’t mind. Honest.” And I didn’t. If delaying my party by a few weeks meant I’d get to see my grandparents, I had no problem. I really wished Aunt Lauren could come, the way she had every year until I’d turned ten. But I knew that was too much to hope for. I’d settle for seeing my grandparents, though. When they wrapped me up in that big group, I didn’t feel so alone.
Dad grinned mischievously. “To make up for it, you may get your wish this year.”
Jillian glanced up from her plate. “Jackson.” She threw Dad a mock glare. “Don’t you dare tell her.”
“What is it? Give me a hint. Pleeease .”
“It’s definitely something you’ve been wanting. So wipe that sullen expression off your face, homeskillet.” Dad leaned across the table and shoveled a large bit meatloaf into his mouth. He was clad in his blue work uniform, a navy cotton shirt with his nametag pinned above his left breast pocket and dark cotton slacks. Since he was a mechanic at Ed’s Car Repairs on Birch Avenue, his attire gave me a good idea at what my present might be.
“A car?” I squealed. “Oh, please, please let it be a car.”
“Don’t you have homework to finish?” Jillian shook her head, tossing her short bob back and forth. “Really, Jackson, you’re such a tease.” In a rare display of affection, she stroked the stubble on his cheek, which made him look like that actor, Oded Fehr.
He chuckled and
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