Ripple by Heather Smith Meloche

Author:Heather Smith Meloche
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2016-08-22T17:26:28+00:00

Jack

The whole dual locker thing with Tessa yesterday morning was classic. I bust out a laugh thinking about it as I drive toward Worton County Hospital for my first night on the job. I had a slew of reasons for surrounding her.

1. I don’t like being called an asshole. I mean, I didn’t want to push her away Thursday night. It took everything I had to stop myself from kissing the hell out of her. But I’d be pissed if someone kissed my girlfriend. And I get that Tessa’s ego was bruised, but name-calling is not nice.

2. Despite Tessa being claimed, I still dig her. I don’t plan to hit on her, but I like being around her. She’s a little glass half empty, and she’s got some stuff to work through, but when she’s not pissed at me, she’s cool and talented. And really, I sort of feel protective of her after seeing her at Cornish. I think Tessa’s gotten herself into something she may not be ready to handle. Best if I stick close by. Just in case.

3. She smells good. Like vanilla and berries.

And, finally,

4. I thought it would be hilarious. Just to see the look on her face. And it was.

The locker deals didn’t cost me much extra time. I can fit Maggie into my math tutoring schedule required by VP Barnes and then video chat with her for the rest. And I can fix a car in my sleep, so tuning up Martin’s car and changing his oil are mini-jobs. What will be a total time suck, however, is this hospital gig, I think as I pull past the giant Worton County Hospital sign.

Sam and Carver simply got calls home from Principal Levy for being caught near the altered deer signs. Mayor Kearns and Carver’s dad did freak out on them, but it blew over quickly. Yet I’m stuck with hours of work for my involvement.

I give an annoyed sigh as I park in the lot and head inside. It smells like bleach, sweat, and coffee. At the Starbucks kiosk in the lobby, I grab two venti regulars before getting on the elevator to the third floor to meet my new boss. I’m on time for this first Saturday-night shift, as promised. But I almost wasn’t. Mom missed some of her meds, and when she saw Tessa’s stepdad outside, she swore he was blowing hot ash at our house and it was somehow coming in to burn her. She kept rubbing and scratching her forearms until they were red and raw. I had to medicate her, close the blinds, and make sure she was asleep.

Now, as the elevator heads up, all I can think about is how, with all the extra hours Ms. Barnes is forcing on me, I don’t have a lot of time to monitor Mom. It’s a risk. So much so that I called Dr. Surrey, explained how many hours I needed to work, and without telling her how bad Mom was

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