Read Online Saints of Augustine by P. E. Ryan - Free Book Online Page B

sweet-talked them. Didn’t have to do that at the cemetery, though—those people don’t care what you do.”
    â€œVery funny.”
    â€œI think I’ll get something.” Melissa squinted through her glasses at the flavors listed on the chalk-board. “Chocolate: boring. Mango-papaya: ick. Blueberry…that’s what I want. Swirled with vanilla. And throw a few of those nuclear sprinkles on it.”
    â€œAt your service.” Sam took a medium cup off the stack.
    â€œA small!” Melissa said. “Please, I’m a whale.”
    â€œYou are not .” He glanced around quickly, checking for Mr. Webber. “I’ll give you a medium but charge you for a small, how’s that?”
    â€œThanks. But make it a small medium.”
    Sam was handing her the yogurt when he spotted Charlie Perrin across the food court.
    Charlie was with Kate Bryant. They were holding hands, walking slowly toward the Pizza Hut and the Daniel Dogs, as if undecided about which one to go to. The last time Sam had laid eyes on Charlie, he’dbeen running past the park at the back of their neighborhood and had seen Charlie shooting baskets. Sam had spotted him first and immediately veered away before he was noticed.
    Melissa followed his gaze to the spot that was holding him transfixed.
    â€œThat’s Charlie Perrin, isn’t it? And Kate what’s her-name.”
    â€œBryant,” Sam heard himself say.
    â€œRight. One of those girls who doesn’t know I exist because I’m not a size four. I guess we should be social and say hi.” Melissa waved at them.
    â€œNo!” Sam hissed. At that moment, he saw Charlie glance over.
    â€œWhy?” Melissa asked, lowering her hand. “Because of the hat?”
    Suddenly remembering the hat, Sam yanked it off his head and shoved it under the counter. “I just don’t want—don’t need to talk to him.”
    â€œGod, that’s right. You two aren’t friends anymore, are you? When am I going to get that story?”
    â€œThere isn’t any story,” Sam said. He was still holding the cup of blueberry-vanilla swirl; he shovedit toward her. Over her shoulder, he saw Charlie’s whole body make a kind of jerk, as if he were about to wave back. But Charlie didn’t wave; the move was aborted. He turned with Kate toward the Daniel Dogs, and they approached the counter.
    â€œWow,” Melissa said. “I think we were just dissed. We were, right?”
    â€œHow should I know?” Sam snapped. “They probably didn’t see us.”
    â€œNot that I care. She can stick her size four where the sun doesn’t shine.” Melissa brought a spoonful of yogurt to her mouth.
    Hell , Sam thought, I had to be wearing that stupid hat. He rang up the sale, stabbing his fingers against the buttons of the cash register, and took Melissa’s money. She was going on about something and he was only half listening.
    â€œâ€¦ so tired of these snotty cliques that act as if the rest of the world—the average, everyday world—just doesn’t exist. You know what I mean? It makes me want to punch someone.”
    Someone cleared his throat and said, “Can I get a small cup of mango-papaya, please?”
    Both Sam and Melissa looked over. A guy was leaning against the end of the counter. His hair, so blond it was nearly white, rose up in a cool, crazy sweep off his forehead. He was wearing jeans and a light-blue, long-sleeved T-shirt with the words YOUR BLISS across the chest. He smiled, and then exhaled part of a laugh and said, “Don’t punch me. I’m not part of a snotty clique, I swear.”
    Sam recognized him. “You go to Cernak, right?”
    â€œYeah. I just transferred there last semester.” He held his hand out to Melissa. “Justin McConnell.”
    Nobody shook hands nowadays. At least, no one they knew. Melissa looked down suspiciously, as if