Read Online You’re Invited Too by Jen Malone and Gail Nall - Free Book Online Page A

chair.
    â€œHey.” I poke her in the back. “You okay?”
    She shrugs. “I guess. It’s just weird at home.”
    â€œIs your mom talking to you?”
    â€œYeah . . . but it’s not the same. It’s all very ‘How was school today, Sadie?’ and ‘Can you pick up some eggs on your way home today?’ ” She frowns. “It feels like there’s something huge between us.”
    â€œNamed Alexandra Worthington?” I scrunch up my face so that I look like Miss Worthington when she gets one of her “brilliant” ideas. “Sadie-babe, I was thinking.”
    Sadie giggles—just for a second.
    â€œI hate that things aren’t right between you and your mom because of RSVP.” I rebalance myself as my toes sink too deep into the sand.
    â€œI could have said no to Alexandra Worthington,” Sadie says. “And in a way I’m glad I didn’t, but I wish it didn’t hurt Mom so much.”
    I stand up and give her a hug.
    â€œSorry about your B, too,” Sadie says, her voice muffled.
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œYou’re not going to quit, are you?”
    â€œQuit? You mean, RSVP? No way! I just . . .” I smooth my hair as I ask my brain the same question I’ve been asking it since yesterday afternoon: Should I cross some of my fun stuff off my schedule? But I shouldn’t have to, not if I’m studying harder. “I have to figure out how to make the most of my homework time, that’s all.”
    â€œI know you will.” Sadie squeezes my hand.
    Becca grabs my arm the second I sit back down. Then she shoves her phone under my nose. The bright light is blinding, and I have to blink for a second in order to read.
    Bubsters3000: My Lo Baby got a B on her pre-algebra test yesterday! Yayness! She’s totes got the smarts!
    â€œWhat?! What is this?” I squint at the screen and reread. It’s not that my grandmother talks just like Becca—I’m used to that. And the fact that she can out-pop-culture me and that she likes to shop in the same mall stores my friends and I do. Used to all of that, too. (Mostly.)
    â€œIt’s a tweet from Bubby. See, someone’s happy you got a B—a B is good,” Becca says.
    â€œNoooooo . . .” I click the phone off and hand it back to Becca. Then I slump down into my seat. I can’t believe Bubby would tell the whole entire world about my B. I called her yesterday to get some advice, but all I got was her being thrilled at my grade. I suppose that when you’re used to grandkids like Zach and Josh, anything higher than a C-minus deserves balloons and cake and tweeting to everyone on the planet.
    â€œShe’s proud of you,” Becca says.
    â€œ Everyone is going to know now!” And I mean everyone. Our entire school follows Bubby on Twitter because of a party at Sandpiper Active Senior Living this summer. What if one of my friends on It’s All Academic mentions it to our faculty advisor? What if I lose my vice captain’s seat? What if I keep getting Bs? What if . . . ?
    â€œFlashlights and phones off, folks!” a turtle volunteer calls from the nest. That means something’s happening. Baby turtles need to follow the light of the moon to get to the ocean, and they can get distracted by other kinds of lights.
    We lean forward. I can just barely see some sand moving. After a few minutes, there’s a rustle and an excited “Oh!” from closer to the nest.
    â€œLook!” Sadie says.
    I stand up with my friends and peer over Becca’s shoulder. A tiny little sea turtle comes wobbling and sliding down the smooth path of sand toward the water. It is possibly the cutest thing ever. Once it gets to the tide line, it’s bumped by the waves a few times before it disappears.
    Sea turtles have it easy. Well, if you can get past the whole