Read Online Ice by V. C. Andrews - Free Book Online

easy crowd tonight."
"She's in the chorus. She makes it," he bragged. Then he leaned over and said. "C'mon, lets show them." He turned to the bandleader. "Do 'Lullaby,'" he told him.
"You've gotit."
My heart wasn't pounding. It was clamoring, raking like a caged beast in my chest. The only thing that gave me some comfort was seeing Balwin at the piano. His familiar face and smile gave me
encouragement.
"Wipe the doubt off their smug faces." he said.
I was given the microphone. Buzz - y took his seat. My table all gaped at me. the girls looking furious. Then the music started. I thought about Daddy and me in the living room and his happy smile and I began: soon, I wasn't in the Kit-Kat, I was back home. I was safe, and the song kept me safe.
When I finished, the audience was on its feet; even the girls at my table reluctantly stood to clap.
"Come around any time you want," the bandleader told me. Balwin looked so proud.
"I knew you could do it," he said.
"I wouldn't have if you weren't here. Balwin.''
"I'm glad I was," he said.
Shawn stepped up between us quickly.
"Nice," he said. "Really nice. Cmon. We're all a-going to Michael's house to party and celebrate,"
"What? Why? What's wrong with staying here?"
"We're finished here," Shawn said.
I looked at the group getting up from the table and I thought about my father's advice.
"I don't want to go to anyone's house. Shawn," I said firmly,
"Why not?"
"We were supposed to go out to dinner. We haven't even eaten yet."
"We'll get something to eat there," he said.
"Maybe you should just take me home," I told him.
"Are you kidding?"
I shook my head and the smile of incredulity turned to a look of annoyance.
"Why?"
"I don't want to go to anyone's house," I said.
"I thought we were going to have a good time. Don't you want to have a good time?"
"Yes, but I don't want to go to anyone's house for it," I said.
"Aw, c'mon."
"No," I said as firmly as I could.
He glared angrily at me for a moment. Then he went to his friends to tell them, and they all started on me.
"We were just going to listen to music, have something to eat, enjoy the night.'
"We can really party."
"What's the problem?'
I didn't reply to any of them. I sat at the table, my arms crossed under my breasts, fixing my attention on the stage and ignoring their comments and pleas.
"You got yourself a chunk of ice all right,' Sonny told Shawn. He stared down at me furiously.
"I'm leaving and going to Michael's," he finally said. "You coming or not?"
I looked up at him.
"No means no." I said as hotly and as firmly as I could. He snapped his head back as if I had slapped him across the face.
"Fine. Then let the fat boy take you home," he cried and turned away from me. "Next time my sister wants to fix me up with someone. I'll tell her to think twice. Go call your sister. Delores," he told her. "I should have listened to you and taken her out. This one's jailbait anyway."
All the girls laughed. I glared back at them and then turned away.
"Hey," Buzzy said leaning over to whisper in my ear. "You ever want to go out with a real man, call me. I'm in the Yellow pages under Real Man."
He laughed and they all walked up the aisle, leaving me sitting by myself at the table. I was sure everyone around us was staring at me. Whenever I lifted my eyes from the table and turned. I met someone else's. I felt so stupid and frightened, very much an adolescent drowning in the world of adult quicksand. But I didn't move.
"What happened?" Balwin rushed over to ask me as soon as they all had left the club.
I told him quickly.
"How could he just leave you like this?"
I didn't reply. I stared at the table, my whole body still trembling. I felt his hand touch my shoulder gently.
"Hey, don't worry, Ice. I got my mother to give me the car tonight. I'll take you home," he said. "Do you want to go home?"
I nodded.
"I heard you say you haven't eaten. How about we stop for some pizza on the way? I'm hungry too. I'm always hungry," he confessed.
"Okay," I said. I