Read Online No Time to Cry by Lurlene McDaniel - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lurlene McDaniel
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leave you off the list? Impossible.”
“Good. I have to plan what to wear. Who knows if a cute guy will show up or not?”
Rhonda would never change. “Good thing we’ve given you plenty of time.”
“Have you heard anything from Brent?”
“He called to wish me a merry Christmas.” She’d already told Rhonda about Brent’s visit, leaving out the part about their discussion of Sandy. Their conversations about Sandy had been too personal, too private. Why was it so easy for her to discuss Sandy with Brent, and yet she felt unable to even mention her name to Jake? She knew it went deeper than the fact that Brent was Sandy’s brother. It was as if she were protecting Jake from the realities of her cancer—as if the truth would somehow drive him away.
“I’m actually looking forward to school starting,” Rhonda said, changing the subject. “We get to practice driving during driver’s ed. In another two months, I’ll get my license.”
“Lucky you.” Dawn was excited about school starting again, too, but not because of driver’s ed. Dawn couldn’t wait to see Jake again. She wondered if he thought about her half as much as she thought about him.
* * * * *
School had been in session for a week before Dawn saw Jake long enough to talk to him. She was on her way across the campus to driver’s ed, and he was on his way to the gym.
“How was your holiday?” she asked.
“All right. And yours?”
“Fine.” The day was blustery and cold, even though the sun was shining. She hugged her coat closer. “My brother got engaged,” she added, then immediately felt dumb. What could Jake possibly care? He didn’t even know Rob.
“But
you’re
still unattached, aren’t you?”
She glanced at him quickly and saw that he was teasing her.
“Of course, I am.” She felt her cheeks flush and hoped he’d think the redness was due to the wind. “Doesn’t soccer season start soon?”
“The first of March. But the team’s practicing every day after school. I heard they’re holding cheerleading tryouts in March. And I remember that you were a great cheerleader. Are you going to try out?”
Dawn hadn’t even considered it. She figured that since Sharon was the captain, she’d never have a chance. Plus, she still had clinic visits to work into her schedule. “Not this year. I’m not sure I’m one of the squad’s favorite people.”
Jake stopped and looked at her with surprise. “You’re wrong. A lot of kids in this school admire you. Since that article came out in the paper, plenty of them have asked about you.”
Terrific
, she thought darkly.
I’m a celebrity because I had cancer
. “I can think of other ways I’d rather be remembered.”
“People are curious. They want to know more about you.”
Dawn groaned. It was the
last
thing she wanted. “Well, do me a favor and tell them it’s not worth knowing about. It was horrible and now it’s over—end of story.” Nervously, she peeked at her watch. “I’ve got to run, or I’ll be late to class.”
As she hurried off, she realized that she’d probably made a bad impression on Jake.
What does it matter
? she thought. After all, he had only been making polite conversation on his way to the gym. He’d always think of her as “that girl who had cancer.”
* * * * *
“Don’t you just
love
it?” Katie asked as she led Dawn from room to room in the empty apartment.
February sunlight poured through double banks of windows in the living room of the old Victorian house that had been converted into apartments. The oak floors needed polishing, and the walls needed painting, but Dawn could see the potential in the spacious rooms with high ceilings and carved doors. “I think it’s super. When will you move in?”
“Rob and I figure that I can move in next month, and together we can fix it up and buy some furniture. Then he can move in with me after the wedding.”
Dawn poked her head into one of the rooms. An old-fashioned
“Good. I have to plan what to wear. Who knows if a cute guy will show up or not?”
Rhonda would never change. “Good thing we’ve given you plenty of time.”
“Have you heard anything from Brent?”
“He called to wish me a merry Christmas.” She’d already told Rhonda about Brent’s visit, leaving out the part about their discussion of Sandy. Their conversations about Sandy had been too personal, too private. Why was it so easy for her to discuss Sandy with Brent, and yet she felt unable to even mention her name to Jake? She knew it went deeper than the fact that Brent was Sandy’s brother. It was as if she were protecting Jake from the realities of her cancer—as if the truth would somehow drive him away.
“I’m actually looking forward to school starting,” Rhonda said, changing the subject. “We get to practice driving during driver’s ed. In another two months, I’ll get my license.”
“Lucky you.” Dawn was excited about school starting again, too, but not because of driver’s ed. Dawn couldn’t wait to see Jake again. She wondered if he thought about her half as much as she thought about him.
* * * * *
School had been in session for a week before Dawn saw Jake long enough to talk to him. She was on her way across the campus to driver’s ed, and he was on his way to the gym.
“How was your holiday?” she asked.
“All right. And yours?”
“Fine.” The day was blustery and cold, even though the sun was shining. She hugged her coat closer. “My brother got engaged,” she added, then immediately felt dumb. What could Jake possibly care? He didn’t even know Rob.
“But
you’re
still unattached, aren’t you?”
She glanced at him quickly and saw that he was teasing her.
“Of course, I am.” She felt her cheeks flush and hoped he’d think the redness was due to the wind. “Doesn’t soccer season start soon?”
“The first of March. But the team’s practicing every day after school. I heard they’re holding cheerleading tryouts in March. And I remember that you were a great cheerleader. Are you going to try out?”
Dawn hadn’t even considered it. She figured that since Sharon was the captain, she’d never have a chance. Plus, she still had clinic visits to work into her schedule. “Not this year. I’m not sure I’m one of the squad’s favorite people.”
Jake stopped and looked at her with surprise. “You’re wrong. A lot of kids in this school admire you. Since that article came out in the paper, plenty of them have asked about you.”
Terrific
, she thought darkly.
I’m a celebrity because I had cancer
. “I can think of other ways I’d rather be remembered.”
“People are curious. They want to know more about you.”
Dawn groaned. It was the
last
thing she wanted. “Well, do me a favor and tell them it’s not worth knowing about. It was horrible and now it’s over—end of story.” Nervously, she peeked at her watch. “I’ve got to run, or I’ll be late to class.”
As she hurried off, she realized that she’d probably made a bad impression on Jake.
What does it matter
? she thought. After all, he had only been making polite conversation on his way to the gym. He’d always think of her as “that girl who had cancer.”
* * * * *
“Don’t you just
love
it?” Katie asked as she led Dawn from room to room in the empty apartment.
February sunlight poured through double banks of windows in the living room of the old Victorian house that had been converted into apartments. The oak floors needed polishing, and the walls needed painting, but Dawn could see the potential in the spacious rooms with high ceilings and carved doors. “I think it’s super. When will you move in?”
“Rob and I figure that I can move in next month, and together we can fix it up and buy some furniture. Then he can move in with me after the wedding.”
Dawn poked her head into one of the rooms. An old-fashioned
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