Never Been Texted by Linda Joy Singleton

Author:Linda Joy Singleton [Singleton, Linda Joy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: young adult romance
Publisher: Leap Books
Published: 2015-01-14T21:00:00+00:00

Bank called.

Need to talk.

ASAP

He texts back: Late night. Don’t wait up.

When I wake the next morning, his car is already gone. I swear and stomp around as I get dressed, vowing to confront my stepdad, even if I have to storm into Bow-Wow Boutique and lasso him with a leash.

I’m stressing over the evil word “eviction” as I reach school and look for Rory. She isn’t at our locker waiting for me. Grabbing a few books, I slam the locker shut then head for homeroom. I find Rory there, in the middle of a group of girls, talking. When she see’s me, she rushes over.

“Have you heard the terrible news?” Rory’s tone is hushed like she’s at a funeral.

Have rumors about my pending eviction already spread around school? I clutch my textbooks to my chest like a shield that can protect me. “What news?”

“Poor Katelyn,” Rory says.

“Katelyn?” I glance over at the chair Katelyn always sits in. It’s empty. “Did she have an allergy attack?” We’ve all been warned not to even breathe peanut butter on Katelyn, her peanut allergy is so severe.

“Worst. Attack. Ever.” Rory shudders. “She’s usually so careful, but last night she was out for pizza with some friends and suddenly swelled up and couldn’t breathe. She was rushed to the hospital but…” Rory’s voice cracks. “No one has heard if she made it.”

I’m too shocked to speak. Katelyn is so nice that even though she’s gorgeous like a Barbie come to life and guys act stupid around her, you can’t hate her. And she might be dead?

By lunch the rumors are insane and the level of noise in the cafeteria is so loud I can barely hear Rory, until silence stills the room like someone pressed a mute button. Heads swivel to gape at a group of girls entering the cafeteria. I gasp when I see Beatrice, who never lunches in the cafeteria, flanked by Hannah and two girls I’ve seen around but don’t know. They sit at a central table, chairs scraping to make room for them. Beatrice smiles like royalty bestowing her honored presence on peasants, her gaze sweeping the room. Maybe it’s my imagination, but for a second she looks directly at me before normalcy returns with clattering silverware, shuffling feet, and noisy talk.

“What’s she doing here?” I have to raise my voice so Rory can hear.

“Not eating lunch, that’s for sure.” Rory purses her lips. “Watch out, Ashlee. Did you notice how she stared at you?”

“I hoped it was my imagination.”

“Nope, she stared hard enough to bore tunnels through your head. Beware, she’s up to no good.”

Before I can bite into my salami sandwich, “no good” arrives at our table. I look up to find Beatrice standing beside me. And she’s smiling.

“Hey, Beatrice,” I say warily. “I thought you were boycotting the cafeteria until it goes vegetarian.”

“The school board compromised and agreed to make one day a week all vegetarian. Didn’t you notice they’re serving tofu burgers?”

“That explains the gross smell. Lucky for me, I brought a bag lunch.

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