Read Online Rainbow High by Alex Sanchez - Free Book Online Page B

tel me about it?”
    Jason swal owed the knot in his throat. “I was afraid you’d feel hurt.”
    “Jason!” Debra said, her voice sounding exasperated. “I told you I want to be your friend!” Great, now he felt even guiltier. “Wel , I—I just didn’t want to hurt you.” Debra pursed her lips as if disbelieving him. “What hurts is when you don’t tel me things—it’s like you don’t trust me.”
    “Trust you?” Jason protested. “I was afraid you’d flip out again.”
    “Wel , you’ve got to admit,” Debra shot back, “after making love for two years, you could’ve given me some warning.”
    “I tried!” Jason muttered, letting his hand slam down on the tabletop. “But like now, every time I try, you make me feel like I’ve done something wrong.”
    “Guys?” Corey crossed his hands into a T, signaling time out.
    But Debra kept focused on Jason. “How do you think I feel? Like I wasn’t able to please you, like you never real y cared about me, like you used me.”
    “I didn’t use you.”
    The bel rang and Cindy leaped up, obviously embarrassed by what she’d started.
    “Jason?” Debra said over the clatter of chairs and trays. “I’ve got to get to class now, but we need to talk.” She hurried to the tray window, wiping her cheek.
    Corey clasped a hand on Jason’s shoulder and said something consoling, but the rumble of the cafeteria drowned it out.
    Jason remained in his chair a moment, too dazed to stand. Had he actual y admitted to his ex-girlfriend, best friend, and best friend’s girlfriend that he was dating a guy? It was al too confusing.
    He wandered in a haze through the rest of the day. By the end of last period, he’d decided to talk to Ms. MacTraugh, as Coach had suggested.
    He pressed his way against the oncoming crowd of students, heading toward her classroom.
    From amid the tide, a teammate high-fived him. “Aren’t you coming to practice?” Odel asked.
    “Can you let Coach know I’l be late?” Jason mumbled. “Tel him I, um, had to do something.”
    “Uh-oh!” Odel gave a suggestive grin. “Got some secret rendezvous?”
    Yeah, right, Jason thought, envisioning tal , broad-shouldered Ms. MacTraugh—or “Big Mac,” as students cal ed her.
    The afternoon sun shone brightly through the windows of her art classroom, il uminating the multicolored stained glass projects. Every inch of wal was covered with vivid paintings. And each side counter was lined with clay sculpture.
    Ms. MacTraugh was bent over a table slicing the vestiges of what looked to have been a sheet cake. Jason suddenly remembered he’d forgotten the GSA meeting—and Ms. MacTraugh’s birthday.
    “Hi, Jason.” She smiled, waving him closer. “We missed you at the GSA. Come have some cake.”
    “Um, no thanks.” His stomach was too tied in knots. “But happy birthday.”
    “Oh, you’ve got to help me,” she insisted, slicing a piece for him. “It’s too much for me, and my cats won’t eat it. Neither wil Barb.” Jason accepted the plate and wondered, Who is Barb?
    “Have a seat,” Ms. MacTraugh said, sitting across from Jason. “Coach Cameron spoke to me yesterday. I didn’t know you’d received a scholarship for next year. Congratulations!” She extended a hand.
    Jason wiped the icing from his fingers and shook hands. “Thanks.”
    “I played col ege bal myself,” MacTraugh said. “Of course, I was a wee bit thinner then.” She grinned, dabbing her chin with a paper napkin.
    “In any case, Coach is concerned about you. I imagine your conversation with him must’ve been quite a big step for you.” She patted his knee.
    “That was very brave.”
    Jason shrugged, proud but also a little embarrassed.
    Ms. MacTraugh adjusted her wire-framed glasses. “Coach said you’re thinking of tel ing your team?”
    “Wel , um, yeah, except . . .” Jason set his plate aside. “I’m not sure how they’d react. What do you think I should do?”
    “Wel ...” Ms. MacTraugh