Read Online OCDaniel by Wesley King - Free Book Online Page A

twists around in your gut like a pack of eels. And not the unagi kind.
    Emma was waiting at the table, eating alone and reading the paper. She was the only nine-year-old I knew who read the paper. She put it down and flashed me a smile. She wasn’t dressed up either. She didn’t usually participate in what she called “commercial holidays.”
    â€œHow was it?” she asked eagerly.
    â€œOkay,” I murmured, pouring some cereal.
    She watched me until I sat down. “You’re lying. What happened?”
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œDid you kiss Raya?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œDid you try to dance and humiliate yourself?”
    I scowled. “I didn’t dance.”
    â€œBut you did humiliate yourself.”
    I thought about that for a moment, and then dug into my cereal. “Maybe.”
    â€œThere’s a surprise,” Steve chimed in, shuffling into the kitchen. He grabbed a protein drink. “Did you try to dance?”
    I put my spoon down. “Why does everyone assume that would humiliate me?”
    Steve took a gulp and stared at me. “Was it to do with that girl?”
    â€œYes.”
    He exchanged a knowing look with Emma. “She was with someone else.”
    â€œYeah,” I muttered. “But I knew that before. I just didn’t . . . expect her to be so happy.”
    Emma frowned. “Isn’t that the point of a dance?”
    Steve took another drink, and then gave me a rare pat on the shoulder. “Buck up. No one likes a mope.”
    With that, he disappeared upstairs, and I just sighed and looked at Emma.
    â€œHe should be a psychologist.”
    Â Â â€¢Â Â â€¢Â Â â€¢Â Â 
    Max hurried over as soon as I got into the yard. He looked concerned.
    â€œWhat happened to you last night? I texted but . . .”
    I shrugged, trying to look casual. “Just wasn’t feeling too well. No big deal. How was the rest of the night?”
    Max seemed dubious, but he cracked a grin. “Pretty good. Taj and Tom did a full dance routine.”
    â€œI bet that was a hit,” I said darkly.
    Max obviously caught the shift in tone. He glanced back at the group, where Raya was talking with Clara. Both of them still had their hair nicely done but were back in their normal clothes. It seemed that none of the eighth graders had dressed up. I was glad I hadn’t worn my Luke Skywalker costume.
    â€œShe isn’t dating him or anything.”
    â€œDoesn’t matter,” I said. “She likes him. And let’s be honest—she would never like me.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    I rolled my eyes. “Because I’m me. A nobody. My brother’s right. I look like a used Q-tip.”
    Max snorted. “That’s pretty good.”
    â€œYeah,” I said, turning for the doors. “I have to use the bathroom.”
    â€œI’m kidding,” Max said.
    â€œIt’s cool. I just need to pee.”
    â€œDan?”
    I looked back, and Max fidgeted a little, obviously uncomfortable.
    â€œWhat was with the light thing?”
    I paused. “I thought I’d dropped something. Was just having a quick look.”
    â€œOh,” he said. “Cool. I’ll see you in class.”
    â€œYeah.”
    I left him there and went inside, feeling my eyes stinging with pressure. I don’t know why, but I felt like tears were about to burst out. I wanted to tell Max, but I couldn’t. I wanted to say that I’d flicked the switch because I had to. And that I was tired today because I’d spent hours shaking and crying and silently screaming out in the darkness. And that I’d left because Raya would never like me, and I didn’t know how to fix that. I didn’t know how to fix anything.
    I was walking down the hall when I saw Sara getting dropped off at the front doors.
    Her mother was there, watching from an open window of her Lexus. Sara walked in, not waving,