Read Online Gracie Faltrain Gets it Right (Finally) by Cath Crowley - Free Book Online Page B

recovering from a broken heart. Even if I did like him, which I don’t, can you imagine the trouble there’d be if we dated? Flemming still hates him because of what happened last year. And then there’s Annabelle.’
    â€˜The course of true love never did run smooth.’
    â€˜I definitely don’t love the guy, Jane.’
    â€˜I’m quoting from the play we’ve been reading in class for the past term, Faltrain. A Midsummer Night’s Dream ? The one you have a essay on tomorrow. Say you’ve read it.’
    â€˜Okay. I’ve read it. Dan has good hair, doesn’t he?’
    â€˜Something tells me this is going to be a long night of study.’
    â€˜Maybe, but after that email you owe me. Just give me the good bits.’
    â€˜Okay, Faltrain. You’ll relate to it. There are a lot of misfires when it comes to romance.’
ALYCE
    Brett drives me home this afternoon and all I can think about is Andrew. Brett is the sensible choice. I know Brett is the sensible choice. He’s nice and he likes me and I can count on him taking me to the formal at the end of the year. I have my dress picked out already.
    Andrew is the wrong choice. I thought that this afternoon when I pretended to skip class with him. But watching him makes me feel like I do when I watch Colin Firth come out of the water in Pride and Prejudice .
    I think about Andrew more than I should. I think about him more than I think about Colin Firth. Sometimes I think about Andrew Flemming dressed as Colin Firth. Sometimes I think about Colin Firth playing soccer. Then I stop myself.
    â€˜Are you okay?’ Brett waves his hand in front of me. ‘You’ve got a weird look on your face.’
    â€˜I was thinking about Mrs Davila again.’
    â€˜You’re still going to apply, right?’
    â€˜Maybe.’
    â€˜What you need is a good game of footy.’
    â€˜I don’t think that’s what I need.’
    â€˜Trust me.’ He turns the car around and heads towards the park. I imagine that it’s Andrew and me getting out of the car, and running across the grass to play soccer.
    â€˜Almost,’ Brett yells when I miss the ball. Almost is a word I’ve heard a lot lately, I think, as he kisses me, and I try to make my blood fizz.
    After dinner I pull out the book Brett gave me. Dear Diary , I start. I put it away. Some things about yourself are safer not to have in writing.
GRACIE
    â€˜Shakespeare was messed up,’ I say after Jane describes the play.
    â€˜And I haven’t even told you about the fairy queen who falls in love with a guy called Bottom whose head has been turned into an ass.’
    â€˜You’re kidding, an actual . . .’
    â€˜An ass , Faltrain. A donkey. Let’s go over the play one more time.’
    I drift off and think about Dan. I’ve been living lost love all day. It’s not fair that teachers make me come home and write about it.

10
GRACIE
    Some people say things happen for a reason. But I’m betting those people have never smacked their English teacher in the face with a soccer ball. Everyone’s looking at me like my middle name is Soprano when I get off the bus this morning. I know the look because Mum gave it to me last night. Yoosta didn’t waste any time calling home. ‘I didn’t hit Mrs Young on purpose,’ I said.
    â€˜I know that, Gracie. I want you to be careful, that’s all. You don’t look ahead, sometimes. That’s why unexpected things happen.’
    Who expects to see their English teacher standing in the way of their ball? I mean, come on. I’m not Athena Star-woman.
FRANCAVILLA
    Well, that’s one way to pass English, Faltrain.
FLEMMING
    Call me when you get this message. I want to hear every single detail. If I thought I could get away with it I would have smacked Young in the face at the beginning of the year.
JANE
    Am I the only one who sees that Flemming is