Read Online Dream Smashers by Angela Carlie - Free Book Online Page A

out.”
    “So tell me again why you can’t go to the
diner for breakfast. I think I missed that point.”
    “Matt’s doesn’t have healthy food. There’s
only, like, fried food and stuff. Besides, the entire place is
filled with smoke. You don’t want me to get lung cancer do you? How
can I be carefree when I’m worried about getting lung cancer and
eating unhealthy food?”
    “Well.” She pauses, in thought. “Okay then.”
She collects the coupons scattered on the table and puts them into
one pile. “Fine. I’ll just tell the ladies you aren’t feeling well
today. But if you get lonely eating all by yourself, you can come
on down to Matt’s.”
    “Thanks, but you can tell them that I need to
get to school early, because that’s the truth.” Rule number two.
“It’s not like I’m avoiding you and your friends or anything. I
just want to try this for awhile.”
    Grams stands, walks over to me, and kisses
the back of my head. “You silly girl, don’t you worry about hurting
their feelings. You go on and have a carefree day.” She looks at me
longer than usual as if she wants to say something important, but
doesn’t, then turns to walk out of the kitchen. “I’ll see you after
school then.”
    “Okay.” I brush the weirdness off and pick a
perfect banana from the bunch in the fruit bowl. “Oh, I forgot to
tell you that I’ll be helping Evan out with some stuff after school
today.”
    Grams steps back into the kitchen. “Is Evan
the date from Friday? The one you didn’t want to go on with
Rainy?”
    “Yeah. He’s nice.” I peel the banana. “You
can meet him if you want.”
    “I’ll be here when you get home. Have a good
day, dear.”
    “’Kay. You too.”
    I sit at the table and eat my breakfast.
Today’s going to be a strange day. No Rainy. Her parents shipped
her to rehab for a few weeks. She’ll get counseling and stuff so
that she will be more responsible. Whatever. That’s what they said
when they shipped James off to rehab. Except he truly needed it.
Rainy doesn’t take any hardcore drugs. It’s not like she’s an
addict or anything.
    On the positive side, at least this gives me
a fresh start. Without Rainy around maybe I’ll have the courage to
meet new people. In order to be carefree, I should have more
friends. Today is day one of my new life, a life full of carefree
bliss.
     
    ***
     
    The first half of the day didn’t go as
planned. Not once did I get the courage to talk to anybody. A few
steps toward Sandy (a girl I knew in kindergarten who is now too
popular for words) and I panicked. I shouldn’t have tried the big
fish first. The bottom feeders should be easier to approach.
    So much for Rule Number Six.
    It’s been forever since I’ve been in the
cafeteria and when I did go, Rainy was always with me. I stand in
the doorway, awkward, with lunch sack in hand, searching for a
place. Okay, the popular tables are to the left. I need to avoid
those at all costs. Maybe I should try the nerd table. I mean,
they’re nerds, right? They like everyone, don’t they?
    Nerd table here I come. I smile (Rule Number
One). My cheeks ache already from smiling all morning. They’re in
my sight. Confidence, a swing of the hair and a destination at
hand. They’ve got to like me—there’s no reason why they shouldn’t.
I’m nice and stuff.
    Just make a beeline for the table without
looking anywhere else. Concentrate. My ears are hot, my face is
hot, my hands are hot and wet. Go away anxiety. Leave town, you’re
not wanted here. This is the new me and I’m going to make friends
today.
    What if they don’t like me? What if they
laugh when I ask to sit? Maybe there is some kind of rules to doing
this sort of thing. Are new people allowed to sit wherever they
want? I don’t know. But I’m not new so those rules won’t apply
anyway. Closer and closer I get without a single idea of what I’m
going to say.
    The girl with the glasses makes eye contact
with me. Oh no. She’s