Read Online Jet Set by Carrie Karasyov - Free Book Online

boarding school. I might have been able to be on a normal tennis team at a normal all-American high school. Did I really have not one friend? For a second I thought of Sofia, but she was the last person I wanted to talk to. I don’t know—all had been well, but I was starting to get a weird sense about her. Like, when I was with her all was well and fun, but when Ithought about her, I don’t know…I had been so happy to bond with her that I strayed from my moral compass. I didn’t think I could trust her.
    I had plopped on the cashmere-covered window seat and was staring out at the darkness. I could see the mountains in the faint moonlight; it all looked so beautiful and calm. I didn’t want to give up this experience. Friends or no friends, this was what my reality was. Then why did I have to go along with Sofia? My heart palpitations got more intense. I scanned the room and noticed my mahogany desk, where the gleaming new computer sat proudly. I hadn’t yet dealt with setting up my school email account, and in my loneliness, I felt motivated to reconnect with faraway friends, and have the world at my fingertips.
    I logged on to VanPeltWinners.com. It was the school facebook, and everyone had been given a professionally designed web page, which had a small bio and anything else we wanted to post, like movie posters or album covers of our favorite artists. It also had a photograph of each student that was taken over the summer (when they were tan) by a professional fashion photographer who was sent to each student’s house with his team, which included a makeup artist, hairstylist, and wardrobe consultant. The result was that every student at the school looked like either Kate Moss or Johnny Depp. I think that was what they were going for. The plan was to have everyone look like they could be models so that the school would seem even more exclusive. My page featured a snapshot my mom took of me on a trip to Bruges—big smile, hairflying in the breeze, blue eyes happy. I looked so innocent then, just a year ago. The school web designers also added tennis graphics and the fact that I was on the tennis team.
    I hadn’t really checked my web page since I’d been at the school, assuming that I wouldn’t receive any posts, but I logged on anyway and established my account. I was astonished to find that I had two postings. One was from Rioko, the violinist, who asked me if I had the homework assignment for our Greek Mythology class. Oops, it was from four days ago, so I assumed she had it by now. My bad. I quickly wrote her back apologizing, explaining I hadn’t signed on until now. The other post was from someone whose user name was Friend. Hmm…interesting. I clicked on the message. It said:
    Hey, saw you play tennis today. You’re really amazing. I just wanted to say I hope you’re having a good time at this school.
    That was nice. I wonder who it was? And I wondered why they didn’t sign their name? It wasn’t a crime to give compliments. In fact, it totally made me feel better.
    I quickly wrote a response:
    Thanks, mystery friend. I appreciate the compliment. I was feeling majorly down and friendless, and you just cheered me up.
    I pressed Send. Why not? Maybe my friend felt the same way? She was probably down the hall from me right now, feeling leftout and sad. I wished I knew who she was. I wouldn’t think she was a dork at all.
    I flipped through the pages of the facebook and found Victoria’s. It was so pretentious. She had a picture of her family crest, photos of her castle, a list of her favorite things, which included caviar (barf), summers in Saint Tropez, champagne, and “hanging out with Liz Hurley in Knightsbridge.” Gag. She also had a Q&A on there, and to the question “What’s your idea of misery?” she answered: “Flying commercial.”
    Please!
    Suddenly my computer ding ed. I had a new message on my facebook