Read Online Moonstone by Jaime Clevenger - Free Book Online

she wanted to say aloud. “I don’t get why everyone cares if she’s a lesbian or not. Who the hell cares?”
    Tamara rolled her eyes. “I don’t even need to respond to that.”
    Kelsey quickened her stride. Tamara jogged alongside her.
    “Look, I’m sorry. Maybe it was a stupid thing to do,” Tamara said. “I think it’s stupid we’re still talking about it. You’re right. Who cares about Joy Henderson?”
    Kelsey finally slowed down. “If you don’t care about her, how about from now on you leave her alone? No eye rolling, no lip smacking, just let her be.”
    “Fine. Whatever. I’ll ignore your lesbo friend.” Tamara pointed to Andrew O’Reilly’s car. “I’d rather pay attention to him any day.”
    Andrew pulled up to the curb and leaned out the window. “You two want a ride to the pool?”
    Tamara turned to Kelsey and held up her thumb. To Andrew, she said, “Wait, didn’t you get your license taken away?”
    “Only for six months. I got it back yesterday.”
    Tamara grabbed Kelsey’s hand and pulled her toward the car.
    As much as Kelsey didn’t want to get in a car with either Andrew or Tamara, it was useless to argue. She slid into the backseat and buckled the belt. “You totaled your last two cars, right? What are the chances we make it five blocks without getting in an accident?”
    “Ignore her. She’s been like that all day.” Tamara glared at Kelsey but slipped on her seat belt as well. She took a cigarette from Andrew and reached for the lighter. She tossed the gum out the window and then lit up. “And she suddenly wants to be best friends with Joy the lesbo.”
    Andrew glanced back at Kelsey and then slapped the wheel. “No shit? That’s perfect. I could totally see you going with a girl, Kelsey. And Joy’s kind of hot now that she doesn’t have braces.”
    “She’s still a total nerd,” Tamara said.
    “Well, yeah, but…” Andrew angled the rearview mirror to see Kelsey’s face. “I could see it.”
    Kelsey folded her arms over her face and slumped in the seat. “Can you both shut the hell up until I can get out of this car? Then we can agree to never talk again.”
     
    The changing room wasn’t big enough to escape Tamara, Sadie or the rest of the group that crowded around the benches. Kelsey didn’t say a word when Tamara bragged to Sadie about the stunt she’d pulled. And she ignored Sadie’s laughter. But she rolled her eyes at the two juniors who had clung onto every word Tamara said and then made a big show of covering up with their towels when Joy walked into the changing room. Joy pretended not to notice and Kelsey fought back a wave of anger. Joy only needed to deny the rumors and then it would be over—but she said nothing.
    Kelsey slipped out of the changing room. The lanes were empty and the water in the pool was as still as glass. She scanned the whiteboard for Coach Treble’s warm-up instructions and then dove in.
     
    “Who knew dykes shaved?” Andrew asked. Over the crashing water it was difficult to hear anyone’s voice, but Kelsey was standing directly in front of Andrew. And she’d been waiting for him to say something. When she glanced back, he grinned and pointed at Joy’s legs. Joy had stepped onto the block and was in position to dive into the water in the lane next to theirs.
    “Everyone here shaves, dumbass,” Kelsey said. She felt her breath catch in her throat when Joy eyed her. “We’re on the swim team, remember?” She pointed at Andrew’s shaved forearms. “Who knew boys shaved?”
    Andrew pinched his lips together and then turned to the kid behind him and said something. As soon as Joy dove in, Andrew coughed and said, “Dyke!” This time his voice was loud enough to get a look from Coach Treble. Andrew feigned another cough.
    The boy standing behind Andrew cackled and Kelsey felt her stomach lurch. She was next in line and Coach Treble had his stopwatch out. He wasn’t timing the other swimmers. He was waiting for