Read Online Stitch by Samantha Durante - Free Book Online

anything traumatic, she hoped the library might have some old local newspapers documenting what had happened.  It was probably a longshot, though.  In all likelihood, she would leave this experience knowing exactly as much as she did coming in, which was nothing.  Alessa couldn’t imagine anything more demoralizing.
    After a busy Thursday attending physics and ethics class and cramming reading for world history and econ in between, Alessa was back in her room preparing for bed.  She heard a quick knock on her door and a bright voice asking, “Alessa?  Are you there?”
    Alessa sighed.  It was Lizzie Green.  Her time on the lam had come to an end.  “Yeah, come on in,” Alessa called out.
    “Hey Alessa!”
    “Hey Lizzie.”  Alessa was already dreading the next part of the conversation.
    “So, you haven’t stopped by yet to pick up your flyers for the party…”
    Alessa put on her best befuddled face.  “My what for the what?”
    Lizzie hardened.  She didn’t look amused.  “Your flyers?  For the big anniversary party on Saturday?  Didn’t you see the email that went out yesterday morning?”
    “Oh…” Alessa paused and pretended to think for a moment.  “I guess not?  Sorry.”
    Lizzie’s expression softened, though she was still grimacing.  It was clear that she was making an effort to be nice.  Alessa assumed that for someone who was used to being listened to, it must be difficult to feel ignored.  She decided to be more compliant.  She didn’t really have a choice, anyway.
    Lizzie continued.  “Okay, well, you must have missed it, no worries…  You were assigned to marketing duty this time, so there’s a bunch of flyers that we need you to hand out and hang up around campus.  Preferably tomorrow,” she added.  She extended a stack of brightly colored paper towards Alessa.
     
    Help the Girls of Z-E-Pi Ring In
    40 Fabulous Years!
     
    Party at the Chapter House
    Saturday @ 10 PM
     
    Alessa looked up from the flyers and smiled at Lizzie.  “Okay, no problem.  I should be able to take care of it in between class tomorrow – I have a light schedule, just a lab and a lecture.”  She would have preferred to go back to the library and continue her research, but decided to keep her reservations to herself.
    “Ok great!  Thanks for your help.”  Lizzie beamed her million dollar smile and headed for the door.  She paused before exiting.  “Oh, and Alessa?  Remember to recruit lots of boys.  Cute boys.”
    “Sure.”  Alessa breathed a sigh of relief as Lizzie closed the door.  That wasn’t nearly as painful as she’d expected.  On the spectrum of party prep assignments, flyer duty was about as good as it could get.  Nothing heavy to lug, no money to spend, and no chunks of puke to pick out of the carpet and couch cushions.  Given Alessa’s surly temperament towards most of the girls in the house, she had expected to get sallied with something on the lower end of the spectrum, if not clean-up again, at least something cumbersome like transporting the keg.  Flyers she could handle.
    Alessa put the stack of paper in her backpack along with a stapler and some tape, then promptly crawled into bed and drifted off to sleep.
     
    Alessa woke with a start.  Frantic, she gasped for air as her eyes struggled to focus in the dark.  What is this place?  Alessa searched her mind, the strange surroundings taking their time to resolve.  The mantle, the desk, the bedspread… she was in her room at school.  She glanced at the clock – 3:47 AM.  It was only a dream.
    She was in a cold sweat, breathing heavily, her heart still pounding against her chest.  She wiped the tears from her face and tried to get a grip on her emotions as fear and panic continued to surge through her body.  She felt vigilant, ready to jump at a moment’s notice.  What had she been so afraid of?
    Alessa could feel the tendrils of the dream slipping back into her subconscious, even as she