Read Online Someone I Wanted to Be by Aurelia Wills - Free Book Online Page B

the rearview mirror. “Hey, Leah!”
    I said nothing.
    “Leah, come on. Talk!”
    I stared out the window.
    Kristy turned into the school lot and parked in her regular spot. She unbuckled and curled sideways in the seat with her back to the door.
    “First of all, I am sick to death of Victoria Miller! She’s an annoying, stupid cow. Leah, let’s talk. I’m sorry about what happened over the past couple weeks. Corinne explained to me that you didn’t mean to leave without asking how my mom was. Corinne says you didn’t know my mom went to the hospital. For a long time, it was just hard for me to understand because my dad said he told you. But, anyways! I’ve just been in a really weird head space with my mom and all.”
    Kristy squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. She picked out a curl and wound the hair around her finger.
    “I’m sure it’s really difficult for you to understand what it’s like for me because your mom isn’t sick. Your mom just comes home and says, ‘Leah, what do you want for dinner?’ or ‘Leah, let’s go to the mall.’ For me, you know, it’s a little different. Corinne, you understand because your mom had ovarian cancer. When was that, Corinne?” She squinted at Corinne.
    “It was Derrick’s aunt,” said Corinne, crossing her legs. “It was, like, three years ago.”
    “Well, Leah, it’s just really, really hard for me.” Instantly, Kristy’s face was streaming snot and tears. Her nose turned bright red. “My mom is very, very sick. I need you to be there for me.”
    I felt nothing but dull horror. “I’m sorry, Kristy. I didn’t mean to leave without asking. I didn’t know. I thought your mom was asleep when I left. Your dad said they were just making a quick trip to the emergency room.”
    “God, Leah, I forgive you. I forgive you. It’s all right. Here, give me a hug.” She reached between the seats, grabbed my head, and mashed it into her crinkly, green-apple-shampoo hair.
    I started crying, too. “I’m sorry, Kristy.”
    “I’m sorry, too,” said Kristy. “I treated you like shit, like shhhhhhheeeeeit.”
    Suddenly Kristy shoved off me and leaned back against the door. She closed her eyes, wiped her nose on her sleeve, and left a shiny streak. Corinne stared at the dash with a philosophical expression.
    Kristy ran her fingertips under her eyes. “What are you doing hanging out with that weird chick? Anita Sotelo! She is so bizarre. Watch out! It might be catching.”
    “She’s not that bad.” How weak. “She’s smart and she’s pretty nice.”
    “She’s OK,” said Corinne. She flipped open the mirror on the visor and applied more liner. “But her clothes and hair and makeup suck.”
    Kristy widened her eyes. She shrieked. “Leah, check this out! Saturday, Corinne and I went down to Torrance Park for a few hours — sorry we didn’t call you; it was in the middle of that weird head-space thing — and, anyways, guess who we saw on the way home? Mr. Corduroy! He drives a sweet black Mustang. We were driving back on Torrance Avenue, and suddenly he was right next to us. He yells, ‘Pull over, girl! What’s with your phone, sweetheart? Come on, let’s party, girl! Let’s do it! You are so beautiful, baby. . . .’”
    “Really?” I said. My heart banged so hard it almost blocked out her voice. “Weird.”
    Kristy ran her tongue over her teeth and shook her head. “I’m just like, ‘OK . . .’ You know he’s kind of intense, but he’s so freaking good-looking.”
    “Kristy.” Corinne pinched the bridge of her nose and leaned forward as if she had a sinus headache. “He is so gross. This is bizarre. He’s old! Please don’t.”
    Kristy snorted and rolled her eyes at Corinne. “Bullshit. The dude’s hot. He got pulled over by a cop, so we didn’t see him again. I’m still kind of in trouble and promised my dad I’d be home by ten. That’s the only reason he let me go out.”
    Some lettered jackets appeared by Kristy’s