Read Online Fragile by Lisa Unger - Free Book Online Page A

back.”
    “Suit yourself.”
    Just like that he turned her off, tuned her out, and stared blanklyahead, as if she wasn’t even there. She felt like she should say something, apologize. She’d have gone inside with Justin, or taken a ride with Brad if she’d seen him waiting in that sweet new BMW his parents gave him. She’d even have taken off for a few minutes with Ricky Cooper, gothic freak that he was. At least he had a band.
    She started toward home, feeling a little bad. She knew he was thinking that she was a bitch, stuck-up. Everyone thought that. But it wasn’t true.
    “Hey, let me ask you something,” he called after her. She stopped and turned.
    “I gotta get my girl something. What’s the best gift anyone ever bought you?”
    She walked back over to the car, happy for an opportunity to end their encounter on a more positive note. He turned on the interior lights, and she moved toward the open passenger-side window. Closer, she saw that the upholstery was grimy, literally black along the edges and in the creases. Even from where she stood she could smell the reek of years—puke, cigarettes, fast food. She’d been about to lean into the car, but instead she found herself recoiling. Not at the filth, necessarily, but at the unpleasant unfamiliarity of it all—this boy with his ill-fitting clothes and bad skin, his old car, the ugly odor. She knew instinctively that she didn’t belong in his world and was glad for it.
    “Who’s your girl?” she asked, moving back again.
    “You wouldn’t know her.”
    Figured. There probably wasn’t any girl; she knew that.
    “The best gift I ever got was a pair of diamond earrings, from my parents.” She knew she sounded haughty, like the snob everyone thought she was.
    “From a dude,” he said with a sneer. “From your boyfriend. What’s his name—Josh?”
    The question made her a little angry, a little self-conscious. Everybody knew, didn’t they, that she and Josh had broken up? She’d caught him flirting with another girl on Facebook, leaving sweet, sexy notes on her message board. I love your pix. You’re such a cutie! Can I have your number? Josh swore it wasn’t him, was still calling every day.
    Just thinking about it made heat come to her cheeks. Everyone had been talking about the breakup all week. She was certain that even her best friends were gossiping about it behind her back, consoling her, then laughing about it together. Amber knew Tiffany had her eyes on Josh, too. Was he making fun of her?
    “A locket,” she lied. “A gold locket with his picture inside.” It was the kind of gift she would have liked from Josh, something grown-up, something with meaning. But he always gave her drugstore teddy bears and supermarket flowers, boxes of candy she wouldn’t dream of eating. Of course, she was always grateful. Aw, Josh! You’re so sweet. Thank you soooo much .
    He nodded. “That’s cool,” he said. “I like that.”
    He didn’t say anything else, just kept his eyes on her. She noticed the stubble on his jaw, the size of his hands. He reached for the cigarettes, and she moved away from the car and headed toward her house again. She heard the engine start, and she broke into a run for home. She couldn’t say for sure what scared her, but she didn’t stop running until she reached her front door. She pushed on the great knob and walked into the tall, bright foyer. She could smell her mother’s tomato sauce, heavy with garlic and basil. She locked the door and looked out the window. She watched him drive slowly by, then gun the engine and rumble off.
    “Josh called. Again,” her mother said from the kitchen. Amber thought tonight she might call him back. She didn’t like not having a boyfriend. As she walked toward the kitchen, she wondered suddenly if Marshall Crosby had been there to see Justin at all.

7
    R insing the dishes, Maggie cut her finger on a chip in one of the dinner plates, and she bled into the soapy water. It