Read Online The Elite by Jennifer Banash - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jennifer Banash
Tags: United States, Fiction, General, Family & Relationships, People & Places, Juvenile Fiction, Travel, Social Issues, Interpersonal relations, New York (N.Y.), Love & Romance, Friendship, School & Education, wealth, Northeast, Middle Atlantic, Dating & Sex, Dating (Social Customs), Identity, Identity (Philosophical concept)
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way you speak to Drew, it’s no wonder that he hasn’t been around lately.”
“Oh, really?” Madison said coolly, sticking her head out from the closet, her face expressionless, her hands filled with denim. “You think so?”
6 0
T H E E L I T E
“Definitely.” Edie shook her blond, shoulder- length, heavily blown- out mane—courtesy of Frederic Fekkai—vigorously for emphasis. She loved helping Madison with her boy problems; it made her feel as though she was fulfilling some great maternal duty.
“He hasn’t been around because HE’S BEEN IN
AMSTERDAM FOR THE WHOLE SUMMER!” Madison screamed, finally losing what was left of her patience, and throwing the armload of jeans on the floor as her MacBook erupted in a jangling of bells.
“Amsterdam,” Edie mused thoughtfully, examining her glossy, French- manicured nails. “Hmm. When did he get back ?”
Madison rolled her eyes, walked over from the closet and sat down at her desk, logging on to Gchat. “Today, Mother. He got back today .” Madison turned around and pointed to the invitation laying on the bed. “Hence the need for a welcome home party. ” God, why didn’t her mother take the hint and just leave?
Every time Edie attempted any kind of mother/daughter bonding, it was always a disaster. Most of the time, it was hard for Madison to believe that she and her mother were even remotely related, much less mother and daughter.
“Well,” Edie said brightly, “I’m sure you have your hands full with the first day of ju nior year coming up so quickly.” She got up, absentmindedly smoothing the material of her dress with the palm of one hand. Edie walked toward the door, then paused, motionless for a moment, one hand on the knob. “It is Monday, isn’t it?”
Madison rolled her eyes so hard it felt as if they might get 6 1
J E N N I F E R B A N A S H
stuck there and start rattling around in her skull. “Yes, Mother, school starts Monday.”
“I knew it,” Edie said triumphantly, closing the door behind her.
Madison shook her head as she checked her e-mail, deleting a shitload of spam from her inbox. She couldn’t exactly blame her father for running for the hills last year. Living with Edie was like living in the fucking looney bin. But having a father you saw on the first Sunday of every month—if he didn’t cancel—was like having no father at all. Madison didn’t know exactly what it was that her dad did for a living—something with finance, maybe? But what ever it was, it kept him preoccupied enough with fifteen- hour workdays and chronic overtime. Even before the divorce, she’d gotten used to not really having a two- parent house hold. Even on the rare occasions when her father had been home, he’d immediately locked himself in his office and yelled at people on the phone all night long.
The computer sounded again, signaling an instant message.
dva1990: “Of all the computers, on all the networks, in all the world, she had to walk into mine . . .”
Madison smiled, despite her anger. Drew knew that Casablanca was the only “old” movie that she loved. In fact, it was the only movie they’d ever been able to agree on—usually she thought anything in black- and- white was outdated and boring. On their first real date, he’d taken her to a midnight 6 2
T H E E L I T E
showing at the Angelika, and they’d sat in the darkness, both mouthing every word along with Bogie and Bergman.
socialiez666: Um, technically aren’t you walking into mine?
dva1990: Good point. J
dva1990: Sorry about today. U have plans for breakfast tomorrow?
Madison smiled as her fingers flew across the keyboard.
socialiez666: Care to make me an offer I can’t refuse?
dva1990: You know the place, you know the time, but just in case—Uncommon Grounds, 10 AM? Be there?
socialiez666: Definitely. J
Madison logged off and leaned back in her chair, smiling happily. What an idiot she’d been to think that Drew was even remotely
“Oh, really?” Madison said coolly, sticking her head out from the closet, her face expressionless, her hands filled with denim. “You think so?”
6 0
T H E E L I T E
“Definitely.” Edie shook her blond, shoulder- length, heavily blown- out mane—courtesy of Frederic Fekkai—vigorously for emphasis. She loved helping Madison with her boy problems; it made her feel as though she was fulfilling some great maternal duty.
“He hasn’t been around because HE’S BEEN IN
AMSTERDAM FOR THE WHOLE SUMMER!” Madison screamed, finally losing what was left of her patience, and throwing the armload of jeans on the floor as her MacBook erupted in a jangling of bells.
“Amsterdam,” Edie mused thoughtfully, examining her glossy, French- manicured nails. “Hmm. When did he get back ?”
Madison rolled her eyes, walked over from the closet and sat down at her desk, logging on to Gchat. “Today, Mother. He got back today .” Madison turned around and pointed to the invitation laying on the bed. “Hence the need for a welcome home party. ” God, why didn’t her mother take the hint and just leave?
Every time Edie attempted any kind of mother/daughter bonding, it was always a disaster. Most of the time, it was hard for Madison to believe that she and her mother were even remotely related, much less mother and daughter.
“Well,” Edie said brightly, “I’m sure you have your hands full with the first day of ju nior year coming up so quickly.” She got up, absentmindedly smoothing the material of her dress with the palm of one hand. Edie walked toward the door, then paused, motionless for a moment, one hand on the knob. “It is Monday, isn’t it?”
Madison rolled her eyes so hard it felt as if they might get 6 1
J E N N I F E R B A N A S H
stuck there and start rattling around in her skull. “Yes, Mother, school starts Monday.”
“I knew it,” Edie said triumphantly, closing the door behind her.
Madison shook her head as she checked her e-mail, deleting a shitload of spam from her inbox. She couldn’t exactly blame her father for running for the hills last year. Living with Edie was like living in the fucking looney bin. But having a father you saw on the first Sunday of every month—if he didn’t cancel—was like having no father at all. Madison didn’t know exactly what it was that her dad did for a living—something with finance, maybe? But what ever it was, it kept him preoccupied enough with fifteen- hour workdays and chronic overtime. Even before the divorce, she’d gotten used to not really having a two- parent house hold. Even on the rare occasions when her father had been home, he’d immediately locked himself in his office and yelled at people on the phone all night long.
The computer sounded again, signaling an instant message.
dva1990: “Of all the computers, on all the networks, in all the world, she had to walk into mine . . .”
Madison smiled, despite her anger. Drew knew that Casablanca was the only “old” movie that she loved. In fact, it was the only movie they’d ever been able to agree on—usually she thought anything in black- and- white was outdated and boring. On their first real date, he’d taken her to a midnight 6 2
T H E E L I T E
showing at the Angelika, and they’d sat in the darkness, both mouthing every word along with Bogie and Bergman.
socialiez666: Um, technically aren’t you walking into mine?
dva1990: Good point. J
dva1990: Sorry about today. U have plans for breakfast tomorrow?
Madison smiled as her fingers flew across the keyboard.
socialiez666: Care to make me an offer I can’t refuse?
dva1990: You know the place, you know the time, but just in case—Uncommon Grounds, 10 AM? Be there?
socialiez666: Definitely. J
Madison logged off and leaned back in her chair, smiling happily. What an idiot she’d been to think that Drew was even remotely
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