Read Online The Fall of Candy Corn by Debbie Viguié - Free Book Online

can.”
    â€œYou are unbelievable! Forget the fact that you’re lying, how can you stand to draw that much attention to yourself?”
    â€œHello? Look what I do for a living. What’s a little more attention?”
    â€œOkay, fine. But please think about me. I really don’t want or need this kind of attention. I’m tired of being stared at and talked about and questioned about things that never happened. It’s humiliating!”
    â€œCandace, I’m sorry you feel that way. Really I am.”
    â€œSo, will you stop helping the story along?”
    â€œNo.”
    What could she say to that? She just stared at him, wondering if there was anything anyone could say to change his mind. She thought wildly of trying to get her father to get an injunction that would keep Kurt from talking about those things. However, that was only likely to draw even more unwelcome attention.
    â€œSorry,” he said.
    She turned and walked away, not trusting herself to say anything to him at that moment. She was angry and profoundly disappointed.
    â€œCandace, you okay?”
    She turned and saw Becca. The other girl was dressed up like a pirate and walking with some of the others from the Muffin Mansion. Becca separated from the group and came to a stop by Candace.
    â€œI’m mad at Kurt,” Candace blurted out without thinking.
    â€œI’m sorry. What happened?”
    â€œHe’s telling people that I really was chased around the park by a psycho killer. He’s not helping me clear it up; he’s feeding the fires of curiosity and making the legend more bizarre. I asked him to stop, and he won’t.”
    Becca put her hand on Candace’s shoulder. “That stinks. Try and see it from his point of view though.”
    â€œAnd that would be what exactly?”
    â€œWhen else is Kurt in his entire life going to have the chance to be this famous?”
    â€œWhat?” Candace asked. “What does that have to do with anything?”
    â€œEverything actually. For right now, the story is exciting. Everyone wants to hear about it, and he gets to be famous. I’m sure he’s also adding little touches to make himself sound heroic too.”
    â€œHe’s claiming he broke his arm trying to break down a bathroom door to save me.”
    â€œSee? When will he ever get to be that kind of hero in real life?”
    â€œYou never know,” Candace said.
    â€œExactly. And neither does he. With guys, it’s usually about ego. The story makes him feel important, special. He probably doesn’t want anybody, including you, taking that away from him.”
    â€œBut he’s lying,” Candace protested.
    â€œYeah. I’m not saying it’s right. I’m just telling you what’s probably going on inside his head.”

    On Friday morning Candace woke up with full-fledged butterflies in her stomach. She turned off her alarm and considered retreating back under her covers. It reminded her of how she had felt when she first went to work at The Zone. Come on, Candace, she lectured herself. That turned out pretty well.
    She was at least grateful to finally be back home in her own bed. She’d had the best night’s sleep she’d had in days. She dragged herself out of bed and got dressed. Then she headed downstairs to catch a ride from her mom. Tamara had some kind of appointment and had told Candace she couldn’t give her a ride to school.
    Candace found her mom in the kitchen, downing her morning cup of coffee. Her mom looked at her over the brim of the cup and said, “Nervous.”
    It wasn’t a question, but a statement. Candace had known her mom long enough to tell the difference.
    â€œIs it that obvious?” Candace asked.
    Her mom nodded slowly, as though she didn’t have enough caffeine running through her system to function fully yet.
    â€œIt’s going to be okay though, right?” Candace asked.
    â€œI