Read Online Removing the Mask by Aimee Whitmee - Free Book Online

I’ll be fine. Do you know what time Jimmy has lunch?”
    “I’ll always worry about you. I think he eats at half twelve, Why?”
    “I’m going to try to meet up with him. See you later.”
    “Bye.”
    The whole walk there I’m praying it doesn’t rain. I don’t think my converses will do a very good job at keeping my feet dry.
    The walk takes a little longer than I thought it would. I find myself standing across the street from the fish and chip shop, watching the thirty or so students milling around outside, waiting to get inside to order.
    I’m about to text Jimmy to see where he is when I see the back of his head, then his face as he appears from inside. He walks towards a group leaning against the window of the DIY store next door and hands out the boxes in his arms before they start walking down the street, in the opposite direction of me.
    Should I shout? All his friends are there though. Wait till he gets home? But I want to see him now.
    My eyes jump up from the tar of the road. Too late, he’s gone.
     
    ***
    I beat myself up for the rest of the afternoon. Should I have run after them? Do I really want to start the whole friend thing again? Is wanting to a bad thing? Is it worth it? Do I want to risk it?
    Placing my elbows on the kitchen counter, I slide my hands into my hair and clench my fist so hard my scalp hurts. What am I going to do? I glance at the clock, five minutes has passed since the last time I checked.
    My Chemical Romance’s Teenagers blasts through my mobile’s minuscule speakers making me groan. I let it ring and vibrate nosily on the kitchen counter but sigh deeply when she rings back.
    “Hi mother.”
    “Why didn’t you pick up?” Hello to you too!
    “I was in the other room. How has your day been?”
    “It was fine. Now listen.” I’m all ears. “There’s a charity coming up and they wanted you involved so I said yes.”
    “You what?” My voice comes out louder than I intend it to but I don’t apologise for nearly deafening her. Please tell me she’s kidding me.
    “I think you’re going to enjoy this one.” Mum’s pacifying tone does nothing to calm my increasingly bad mood.
    “Why did you do that? I told you I wasn’t going to do another!” I can’t believe this; she’s totally ignored what I’ve told her. Why does she keep doing this?  
    “It’s a fundraiser for multiple charities! It’s such good publicity and I thought you’d want to do it!” She says trying to defend herself but I’m not hearing any of it.
    “That’s my point! You thought! You didn’t come and ask me!”
    “It’s for-”
    I press the end call button before dumping it onto the counter. Georgia Prince strikes again. What is it with her? Does she have selective hearing?
    I’m going to get an earful later for hanging up on her. But it’s not like I’m acting out of line, I said I didn’t want to do anymore or this charade , yet she continues to get me involved in it. I’d love to know the reason she does these things but of course, I’m here and dad’s back…home.
    My phone vibrates with a notification; not what I’m expecting. The more I read of the email, the more I want to get one of my horrible high heeled shoes, and smash the living electronics out of my phone. 
    My mother doesn’t call me back and apologise. My mother doesn’t leave me a voice mail. She doesn’t even send me a text. No, she goes and sends me an email. An email which only holds information on the charity, not so much of a word is actually addressed to me.
    I absorb the information before chucking the phone on the side. I don’t like it when she’s right. But she is this time. I would have done it if she’d asked me; it sounds fun, but it’s going to get very messy if I don’t do this right.
    I have to pick a school; I’m seriously considering choosing mine, because there’s a chance Jimmy could be involved as well. Before I let myself get excited about that, I need to actually tell him