Read Online Seeds of Hate by Melissa Perea - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Melissa Perea
Tags: Contemporary, Young Adult
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invitation to do something? On the weekends. Act cool, Selah. Act cool.
"Sure, sounds fun." It wasn't about what I was doing, it was just about having someone to do it with.
"It's not really," he said. "But the atmosphere beats sitting at home." A soft smile pulled across his face. He reached into his pocket and brought out a handful of trash, coins and various pieces of lint.
"What time do you open?" I asked, analyzing him as he picked through it all, tossing some of it to the side and keeping others in his hand.
He looked up and handed me a small piece of paper. "6:00 AM, but you can come later. That's an unholy hour to be awake on the weekends."
I grabbed the paper and read it. It was an address and number written in pink crayon. The warning bell rang, signaling the start of first period. We both stood up, knocked twice on the brick and laughed.
"I'll see you sometime this weekend then," said Izzy as he walked away.
"I'll be there," I shouted back as we both headed to our classrooms.
***
I knew it was nothing, but to have some place to be other than home gave me a rush. The rest of the day was spent with a concrete smile in place, and I actually enjoyed school. I walked to my car with a bounce in my step that had never previously existed and an air of confidence that had been suppressed since I was ten years old.
Reaching into my bag, I fiddled around to look for my keys. Friday nights were lonelier than most because I was consistently reminded of the extravagant plans of those around me. Football games. Sleepovers. Group movie dates. Trips to abandoned houses to make out and other things of that nature. I would read another book, watch a movie or be in bed by 9:00 PM if I got super bored.
I beeped my key chain twice and reached for my door. And then it happened. My worst fear.
Public humiliation in the high school parking lot.
Something I had avoided since I started driving and Aunt Carolyn stopped dropping me off. As my face planted itself against the glass window, my mind ran through the events of the day, wondering where I went wrong. Did I talk to someone that I shouldn't? Did I walk too close to the yellow benches? If I did, did I look at Sarah, Jessica or Britney in a manner that was unbefitting to their personal taste? Did I have toilet paper dragging down the back of my skirt?
My eyes, much to the disgrace of my mind, opened up and looked down. No toilet paper. My messenger bag dropped to the ground and then began to drift across the asphalt. I lifted my head.
It was them. Of course it was them. But I didn't remember going near them...
"What are you doing talking to Izzy? You don't belong there." Britney's voice, a rusted shade of metal, grated itself against my ears.
Izzy? Why would they care about me talking to Izzy?
"Does she have to ask you again? Why are you talking to him?" This time it was Jessica. She stood behind Britney with a feral grin and pink sun-glossed lips.
"Answer, Selah." Now it was Sarah's turn to chime in. I swear they all operated off of one brain. Wait ... did they just say my name? They knew my name? I reached down to grab my bag, but several hands pushed me back against the car.
"Answer."
I closed my eyes and fought the fear and tears that were rising up from my gut. They were just girls. Just girls. Just girls. It's not like they were going to kill me. They were there to manipulate and intimidate. Be strong. Be strong.
My shoulders squared and I locked my knees—physically pretending to be more confident than my brain was willing to accept.
"He's my friend," I replied, my voice a quiet whisper. "We're just friends. Why does it matter?"
Britney, Jessica and Sarah all laughed in unison. Their combined shrill was stronger than a pack of hyenas in heat.
"You know, she's right." A male voice came from behind the pack. "Why do you girls even care? Unless, of course, one of you has the hots for him."
Nathan. At least, I think it was Nathan. He walked up beside me and
"Sure, sounds fun." It wasn't about what I was doing, it was just about having someone to do it with.
"It's not really," he said. "But the atmosphere beats sitting at home." A soft smile pulled across his face. He reached into his pocket and brought out a handful of trash, coins and various pieces of lint.
"What time do you open?" I asked, analyzing him as he picked through it all, tossing some of it to the side and keeping others in his hand.
He looked up and handed me a small piece of paper. "6:00 AM, but you can come later. That's an unholy hour to be awake on the weekends."
I grabbed the paper and read it. It was an address and number written in pink crayon. The warning bell rang, signaling the start of first period. We both stood up, knocked twice on the brick and laughed.
"I'll see you sometime this weekend then," said Izzy as he walked away.
"I'll be there," I shouted back as we both headed to our classrooms.
***
I knew it was nothing, but to have some place to be other than home gave me a rush. The rest of the day was spent with a concrete smile in place, and I actually enjoyed school. I walked to my car with a bounce in my step that had never previously existed and an air of confidence that had been suppressed since I was ten years old.
Reaching into my bag, I fiddled around to look for my keys. Friday nights were lonelier than most because I was consistently reminded of the extravagant plans of those around me. Football games. Sleepovers. Group movie dates. Trips to abandoned houses to make out and other things of that nature. I would read another book, watch a movie or be in bed by 9:00 PM if I got super bored.
I beeped my key chain twice and reached for my door. And then it happened. My worst fear.
Public humiliation in the high school parking lot.
Something I had avoided since I started driving and Aunt Carolyn stopped dropping me off. As my face planted itself against the glass window, my mind ran through the events of the day, wondering where I went wrong. Did I talk to someone that I shouldn't? Did I walk too close to the yellow benches? If I did, did I look at Sarah, Jessica or Britney in a manner that was unbefitting to their personal taste? Did I have toilet paper dragging down the back of my skirt?
My eyes, much to the disgrace of my mind, opened up and looked down. No toilet paper. My messenger bag dropped to the ground and then began to drift across the asphalt. I lifted my head.
It was them. Of course it was them. But I didn't remember going near them...
"What are you doing talking to Izzy? You don't belong there." Britney's voice, a rusted shade of metal, grated itself against my ears.
Izzy? Why would they care about me talking to Izzy?
"Does she have to ask you again? Why are you talking to him?" This time it was Jessica. She stood behind Britney with a feral grin and pink sun-glossed lips.
"Answer, Selah." Now it was Sarah's turn to chime in. I swear they all operated off of one brain. Wait ... did they just say my name? They knew my name? I reached down to grab my bag, but several hands pushed me back against the car.
"Answer."
I closed my eyes and fought the fear and tears that were rising up from my gut. They were just girls. Just girls. Just girls. It's not like they were going to kill me. They were there to manipulate and intimidate. Be strong. Be strong.
My shoulders squared and I locked my knees—physically pretending to be more confident than my brain was willing to accept.
"He's my friend," I replied, my voice a quiet whisper. "We're just friends. Why does it matter?"
Britney, Jessica and Sarah all laughed in unison. Their combined shrill was stronger than a pack of hyenas in heat.
"You know, she's right." A male voice came from behind the pack. "Why do you girls even care? Unless, of course, one of you has the hots for him."
Nathan. At least, I think it was Nathan. He walked up beside me and
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