Read Online Salvaged by Stefne Miller - Free Book Online

Mr. Bennett. If it is a requirement that the
team attend camp, then I should either attend or no longer be on
the team. It's only fair. Plus, for totally selfish reasons, the last thing
I need is another reason for people to dislike me. Preferential treatment doesn't bode well in high school."
    Riley didn't agree with me. "Screw what other people think."
    "Riley Bennett," Mrs. Bennett scolded. "You cut that talk out
right now."
    He apologized to his mother and then turned back to me. "Who
cares what anyone else thinks? Missing camp is no big deal." He
grabbed my elbow to give it a slight squeeze. "Stay on the team."
    "I care what people think. I'm already an outsider. I'm already
the freak."
    "Attie." Now Mrs. Bennett sounded angry with me. "You stop
talking like that. Nobody thinks you're a freak. Why would they?"
    Yanking my elbow away from Riley, I sat back in my chair and
crossed my arms across my stomach. They would never understand.
    "Never mind." My jaw grew tight.
    Riley leaned toward me and gently placed his hand on my arm.
"Who cares?"
    My voice rose as I spoke. "That's easy for you to say, Riley."
    He removed his hand from my arm and sat upright. "Whaddya
mean?"
    "Good grief, you're the most popular boy in school. You're smart,
athletic, good looking... "
    He raised an eyebrow and grinned.
    "I mean, not to me necessarily... "
    He quickly frowned.

    "But evidently to everyone else. Every girl in school and some
probably not in school want to go out with you."
    At first he blushed, but then he crossed his arms and shook his
head. "Not true, not at all."
    "Yes true. It is true. Imagine being in my situation." I stood up
and threw my hands on my hips. The dreaded drama queen was
coming out. "Let's see, the bizarre girl from the accident who claims
an angel saved her life goes off to cheer camp where she wakes up
screaming at the top of her lungs every night. Throw on top of that
the fact that our cheer uniforms don't hide any of my scars, and
then I become Frankenstein. Kids are cruel, Riley. Do you think they
won't make it hell for me?"
    He was silent. There was nothing he could say. Kids were cruel,
and they could show no mercy. He placed his elbows on the table
and put his face in his hands.
    I lowered my voice. "I don't want sympathy. I just don't want
to subject myself to more anguish." Tears surfaced, but I shook my
head in an effort to keep them at bay. I didn't want to cry in front
of the Bennetts again. Sitting down, I tried to regain my composure. "Honestly, I don't care about cheering anymore. I only tried out
because my dad wanted me to. I prayed that I wouldn't even make
the team. God didn't seem to hear that particular plea."
    "But you did make the team," Mr. Bennett spoke again. "You
made the team because you're good and because you love it."
    "But Mr. Bennett-"
    He interrupted me. "Okay, Attiline, it's my turn to speak." His
voice was stern.
    "Yes, sir." I bit the fingernails on my left hand and looked down
at the table as I fumbled with the napkin ring in my right.
    "Your dad wanted you to try out because he knew you would
enjoy it, among other things."
    "What other things?" I mumbled.
    "Look at me, Attiline."
    Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him lean toward me, and
my tears fought their way to the surface again. I shook my head.

    His voice was stern but gentle. "Atticus Elizabeth Reed, look
at me."
    I sat still as he waited, never releasing me from his gaze. I could
hear Mrs. Bennett crying but wasn't sure what Riley was doing.
After what felt like hours, I realized I wasn't going to win the battle
and lifted my eyes to meet Mr. Bennett's.
    "Thank you," he whispered. "It's time for you to move on, Attiline. It's time for you to enjoy your life again. Your dad ... all of us
want you to participate in life again."
    Mrs. Bennett sat sobbing across from me. I still couldn't see
Riley.
    "Nobody said this would be easy, and nobody said this would be
painless.