Reaching Through Time by Lurlene McDaniel

Author:Lurlene McDaniel [McDaniel, Lurlene]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780375899492
Publisher: Random House Digital, Inc.
Published: 2011-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

6

His mother took off from work and accompanied Drake for registration and orientation at what would be his new high school. Drake had asked for the morning off too, telling Dennison the day before that he’d come in late. “No need,” Dennison told him. “Take the day off. You’ve earned it.”

Drake was closing in on the end of his project, so he could afford to take a day off. After what he saw as Gina’s rejection of him, he was having difficulty being around her every day anyway, so when his mother reminded him about registration, Drake was glad for the break. He felt the cold hand of reality clutch him, though, the minute they walked through the high school’s doors. For Drake, a kid who wasn’t created perfect, school was the unhappiest place on the planet. His unhappiness doubled when he also realized he was a new kid, meaning he had no friends or acquaintances.

“Nice building,” his mother said as they followed the registration signs to the gym. “Newer than your school in Ohio.”

Big whoop. Kids milled in the halls—freshmen, he assumed. They looked as lost as he felt. He was heading down the hall when a girl came up to him. She was almost as tall as he was, had dark hair, a nice smile and ordinary features. She wore a name tag: BETH, STUDENT GUIDE. She greeted them with “Hey, I’m here to answer any questions. Welcome.”

“Where’s the gym?” Connie asked.

“This way.”

Drake wished his mother hadn’t spoken to Beth. How hard could it be to follow signs on their own?

Beth kept pace with Drake to accommodate his slower gait. “You don’t look like a freshman. No panic in your eyes.”

“I’m a junior. Transferring in.”

“Hey, I’ll be a junior too. Beth Karondokis, yearbook coordinator, class VP, choir, Green Committee member. I’ve generally got my fingers in everything that happens around here.”

He smiled slightly over her description of herself. She was bubbly and self-assured. He envied her affability. “Drake Iverson.”

“My dad owns a Greek pizzeria near the school where all the kids hang. The only Greek pizza place in the city. Actually, the only Greek pizza place in North Carolina.” She made a funny face, forcing a real smile from Drake.

She sent him a sidelong glance as they walked. “CP?”

He felt his body grow rigid. She’d boldly nailed him and his handicap. “Right.”

“I have a younger sister with CP,” Beth said. “Lisa is much worse off than you. She’s a great kid.”

Was that supposed to console him? Drake never knew how to deal with any girl, let alone a kind one.

They stopped at the gym’s entrance. “We’re here. Why don’t you go register and then let me give you a guided tour? And when school starts, look me up. I’ll intro you around to my friends.”

“Go on,” his mother said. “I’ll wait in the bleachers.”

Drake shot her a hostile look. Didn’t his mom get that he didn’t want to hang around and go on a tour with a girl who probably pitied him?

Beth put her hand on his shoulder.

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