Read Online The Lifeboat Clique by Kathy Parks - Free Book Online Page B

listen to or shopping or telling their parents to go to hell without getting grounded, lonely girls swim. At least this one did. Every afternoon from three to five. I used to be on the swim team in my neighborhood in elementary school, and I was competent at butterfly and breaststroke, but a total badass at freestyle.
    So I did what any other lonely girl did who had swum countless hours until the chlorine was a trusted confidant and red eyes were an ordinary thing. I dove into the water and swam toward that boat.
    The water was bracingly cold, but I warmed up quickly. Even in my clothes I was quick as a seal as mybody recognized the water as an ally and immediately fell into synchronicity, my bare feet kicking.
    The boat had drifted another ten yards or so by the time I got to it. It was an old boat. Either the tsunami or someone’s neglect had done a number on it. Its side was dotted with scrapes and dents, and the plastic awning had seen better days. The entire sunshade, in fact, was bent so that it covered the front of the boat rather than the back.
    â€œHello!” I called, treading water.
    I waited, but no answer came. The boat was abandoned. I moved around to the back and was hoisting myself up the ladder when I noticed Abigail and Trevor swimming toward me. Abigail was a pretty good swimmer herself. I know this because she had a pool in her backyard in the Palisades, something we enjoyed together back when we were best friends.
    Sienna and Hayley were still waiting on the piece of roof. I motioned for them to come, too, but they just shook their heads at me.
    I took a look around the boat. First of all, and of paramount importance, there was no engine in the back. Just a few wires where an engine was supposed to be. The deck was covered with wet, stinking carpeting that squished under my feet. There was a captain’s seat, two seats built into the back, a swivel seat in the middle of the boat, and araised, carpeted place up in front where more people could sit. The cracked leather cushions spilled wet foam.
    Of course God would answer my prayers with a boat like this.
    Abigail climbed up the ladder in back and stood dripping beside me. Her hair was slicked to her head again.
    She looked around, studying the boat, holding on to the rail for balance. “What a piece of shit.”
    â€œAgreed.”
    This boat wasn’t taking us anywhere, but it was at least a little bit better than a floating roof.
    Trevor climbed into the boat.
    â€œIt’s beautiful,” he breathed.
    Abigail shot him a disgusted look. “You’re joking.”
    He flipped his wet hair out of his eyes. “You should learn to appreciate things.”
    I looked over at Hayley and Sienna, who were still staring at us from on top of the roof. Hayley had her purse over her shoulder like she was ready to go.
    â€œWhy aren’t they coming?” I asked Abigail.
    â€œThey can’t swim, that’s how come.”
    â€œThey’re drifting farther away. We’ve got to do something!”
    I opened a hatch and found some supplies and a coiled-up rope. I quickly uncoiled it.
    â€œIt’s not going to be long enough,” I said.
    â€œShit,” said Trevor. “Well, we tried.”
    Sienna and Hayley were looking worried.
    â€œCome get us!” Hayley called.
    â€œWe can’t,” I shouted back. “There’s no engine!”
    I opened another hatch and searched around frantically. “Great. No life preservers.”
    â€œHelp us!” Sienna called.
    â€œDon’t leave us!” cried Hayley.
    â€œWhy don’t you get off my ass?” Trevor called back. “You’re the ones who can’t swim.”
    â€œHold on!” Abigail shouted. “I’m comin’ for ya!”
    â€œWhat good is that gonna do?” I asked her. “You can’t haul them one by one to the boat.”
    â€œYou just watch me.”
    â€œDon’t be stupid. I have an