Read Online Whatever Doesn't Kill You by Elizabeth Wennick - Free Book Online Page A

me…and it sucks having nobody to sit with at lunch.”
    â€œIs this some elaborate setup where you’re going to spend a couple of weeks pretending to be my friend, then set me on fire in the cafeteria or something?” Wex looks up at me, alarmed. Sometimes I forget he’s there, always listening. I ruffle his hair. “Don’t worry, Wexy. Nobody’s gonna do that.” I shoot Ashley a pointed look. “Are they?”
    Ashley looks genuinely bewildered. “No. I just thought…”
    â€œWe’re going to my house,” I tell her. “You can come along if you want, I guess.”
    I herd the kids into the vestibule of our apartment building, unlock the inside door and walk down the hall. Ashley’s face is pinched, like she’s afraid to touch anything with her hands.
    â€œSo this is where you live,” she says, trying to sound like it’s no big deal.
    I nod and open the apartment door. “You don’t have to be polite about it. I know it’s a hole.”
    â€œNo, it’s not that bad. I mean, I’m sure it’s…”
    I don’t get to find out where she’s going with that train of thought, though, because Xavier’s mother is waiting in our living room to pick him up. Remarkably, she has the rest of the money she owes me, which is up to forty bucks now. I tuck it in the back pocket of my jeans and mumble a thank-you. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ashley taking in the room, casting a critical eye on the cluttered living room, the kitchen sink full of dirty dishes. I imagine her home is something out of Good Housekeeping , with spotless rooms painted in subtle earth tones, tidy afghans folded neatly over the backs of chairs, shelves covered in beautifully arranged knickknacks and wicker baskets full of magazines.
    We sit in the living room, me on the couch and Ashley perched on the edge of the tattered La-Z-Boy chair like she’s afraid it will swallow her whole if she sits back.
    â€œSo this is what you do every day, huh? Watch other people’s kids?”
    â€œYeah.” I suddenly realize I know nothing about this tidy pink Barbie doll sitting in my living room. “Do you have a job?”
    â€œNo. My dad thinks it would distract me from getting good grades. I just get an allowance for doing chores.”
    â€œMust be nice.”
    â€œWhat, getting an allowance?”
    â€œWell, yeah. That and having a dad.”
    Ashley gives me a knowing look. “Ah, your parents are divorced.”
    â€œNo, dead.” I pause for effect, enjoying the look of horror on her face for a second before I elaborate. “My dad is, anyway. My mom is…sick. She’s in a nursing home.”
    â€œWow. No wonder you’re so screwed up. No offense.”
    â€œYou know, just saying ‘no offense’ as soon as you say something rude doesn’t mean it wasn’t offensive.”
    Ashley looks startled and thinks that over for a minute. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Sorry.” It doesn’t make up for nine years of her treating me like crap, but I suppose it’s a start.
    â€œYou want something to eat or drink or something?” I’m not much of a host. It’s not like I have a huge variety of guests over. Griffin and Katie and Marie-Claire all know where the food is and help themselves if they’re hungry.
    Helped themselves, I suppose.
    â€œYeah, I could eat,” Ashley says.
    I look in the cupboard, find Twinkies and grape juice. Wex comes in and wants some, then plunks himself down in front of the TV to watch Phineas and Ferb .
    Ashley makes a face. “Ugh. Kid stuff. My little sister watches this all the time.”
    â€œYou want to go sit in my room instead?”
    I regret the words as soon as they’re out of my mouth. I can’t let Ashley Walsh see my bedroom, with Rubbermaid boxes of yarn lining one wall and Emily’s posters of thrash metal