Read Online Candid (True Images Series) by Michelle Pennington - Free Book Online
Authors: Michelle Pennington
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I do every day.”
“Well you took longer than usual. I was afraid that you wouldn’t get here in time to walk me to the gym.”
From Lee’s expression, I could see that these plans were new to him. As I waited anxiously to hear what his reply would be, I knew that no matter what he said, it would turn out bad for me.
When he answered, his voice was light but firm, “Sorry Jordan, but I was just asking Sienna to go with me. We can both walk with you if you’d like.”
Jordan’s eyes sparked with anger as she looked over at me. Her anger was all the more terrifying because of the wide smile she directed at me. “That’s all right. I’ll find my way somehow. So, Sienna, have you told him yet?”
“Told him what?”
“You know, that you aren’t allowed to date?” Turning back to Lee she continued, “I thought you should be warned - in case you are actually into the stringy hair and worn out clothes thing Sienna has going on. You see, her mom has this crazy idea that because she got knocked up in high school, Sienna will too. So, she’s not allowed to date until after she graduates. And the funny thing is , Sienna actually goes along with it.”
I glanced at Lee and saw that his eyebrows were drawn together in a puzzled furrow over the bridge of his nose, but beyond that, I couldn’t tell how he was taking this. Jordan’s expression was easier to read. She was enjoying this immensely.
“How do you know about that?” I asked, my words coming out clipped and angry. It wasn’t like I told many people.
Jordan’s voice remained bright, like poisoned sunshine. “Your mom was talking about it at church. Everybody thought she was crazy to be so strict. I mean, most kids would just get rebellious and sneak around anyway. Not perfect little Sienna though.”
Normally, I didn’t handle conflict well, but if anyone started trashing my mom, I got mad enough to get over it. “She’s not crazy. She knows the consequences and wants to protect me from them. I don’t mind because I’m not taking any chances with my future. It’s my decision too.”
“Your loss. There are other ways to not get pregnant besides abstinence, you know.”
My hands were shaking I was so mad. It was humiliating to be having this conversation in front of Lee. I squeezed my hands shut to keep them still, then had to concentrate on not aiming one of them at her sneering mouth. “I’m sure you could tell me all about them,” I replied, my boldness scaring the living daylights out of me.
“Too bad nobody told your mom,” she returned, not even flinching. She turned to leave, but turned back to add, “By the way, I didn’t see that picture you took of me and Brittany in the school paper. I wonder how that mistake could have been made.”
“I have nothing to do with what pictures are chosen for the paper. I just take them and turn them over to the editors.”
“Oh, but I’m sure you could talk Mr. Greeley into anything if you really wanted to. I mean, he’s dating your mom so he’d probably do whatever you asked to get on your good side.” Jordan must have seen the confused shock on my face because she continued, “Wait, didn’t you know? That’s pretty funny. I thought everyone knew about your mom and Mr. Greeley. I wonder why she hasn’t told you? ”
Shock spread through me like ice water. My mom was dating Mr. Greeley? “You’re lying,” I accused, desperately hoping it was true.
“Am I? Why don’t you ask your mom?” Her moment of triumph complete, she turned and walked away, her ponytail swaying in rhythm with her hips. If I had disliked her before, I pretty much hated her now.
Next to me, Lee let out a long, low whistle. “Wow. I don’t know how you kept from hitting her. Are you ok?”
Answer him, I told myself. But I had no words right then. The bell rang, and everyone headed to the gym. Automatically, I began walking with them. It didn’t even register that Lee was walking with me until he took
“Well you took longer than usual. I was afraid that you wouldn’t get here in time to walk me to the gym.”
From Lee’s expression, I could see that these plans were new to him. As I waited anxiously to hear what his reply would be, I knew that no matter what he said, it would turn out bad for me.
When he answered, his voice was light but firm, “Sorry Jordan, but I was just asking Sienna to go with me. We can both walk with you if you’d like.”
Jordan’s eyes sparked with anger as she looked over at me. Her anger was all the more terrifying because of the wide smile she directed at me. “That’s all right. I’ll find my way somehow. So, Sienna, have you told him yet?”
“Told him what?”
“You know, that you aren’t allowed to date?” Turning back to Lee she continued, “I thought you should be warned - in case you are actually into the stringy hair and worn out clothes thing Sienna has going on. You see, her mom has this crazy idea that because she got knocked up in high school, Sienna will too. So, she’s not allowed to date until after she graduates. And the funny thing is , Sienna actually goes along with it.”
I glanced at Lee and saw that his eyebrows were drawn together in a puzzled furrow over the bridge of his nose, but beyond that, I couldn’t tell how he was taking this. Jordan’s expression was easier to read. She was enjoying this immensely.
“How do you know about that?” I asked, my words coming out clipped and angry. It wasn’t like I told many people.
Jordan’s voice remained bright, like poisoned sunshine. “Your mom was talking about it at church. Everybody thought she was crazy to be so strict. I mean, most kids would just get rebellious and sneak around anyway. Not perfect little Sienna though.”
Normally, I didn’t handle conflict well, but if anyone started trashing my mom, I got mad enough to get over it. “She’s not crazy. She knows the consequences and wants to protect me from them. I don’t mind because I’m not taking any chances with my future. It’s my decision too.”
“Your loss. There are other ways to not get pregnant besides abstinence, you know.”
My hands were shaking I was so mad. It was humiliating to be having this conversation in front of Lee. I squeezed my hands shut to keep them still, then had to concentrate on not aiming one of them at her sneering mouth. “I’m sure you could tell me all about them,” I replied, my boldness scaring the living daylights out of me.
“Too bad nobody told your mom,” she returned, not even flinching. She turned to leave, but turned back to add, “By the way, I didn’t see that picture you took of me and Brittany in the school paper. I wonder how that mistake could have been made.”
“I have nothing to do with what pictures are chosen for the paper. I just take them and turn them over to the editors.”
“Oh, but I’m sure you could talk Mr. Greeley into anything if you really wanted to. I mean, he’s dating your mom so he’d probably do whatever you asked to get on your good side.” Jordan must have seen the confused shock on my face because she continued, “Wait, didn’t you know? That’s pretty funny. I thought everyone knew about your mom and Mr. Greeley. I wonder why she hasn’t told you? ”
Shock spread through me like ice water. My mom was dating Mr. Greeley? “You’re lying,” I accused, desperately hoping it was true.
“Am I? Why don’t you ask your mom?” Her moment of triumph complete, she turned and walked away, her ponytail swaying in rhythm with her hips. If I had disliked her before, I pretty much hated her now.
Next to me, Lee let out a long, low whistle. “Wow. I don’t know how you kept from hitting her. Are you ok?”
Answer him, I told myself. But I had no words right then. The bell rang, and everyone headed to the gym. Automatically, I began walking with them. It didn’t even register that Lee was walking with me until he took
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