Skater Boy (Patchwork House Book 1) by Mary Catherine Gebhard

Author:Mary Catherine Gebhard [Gebhard, Mary Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781733851008
Publisher: Unglued Books
Published: 2019-04-25T16:00:00+00:00

After too much birthday cake and more presents, we sat around as Romeo’s newly cut vinyl played a powerfully melancholic song.

“Someday you’re going to be famous,” I said to him, as his voice filled the room. When he stopped thrashing to sing, really sing, it was no wonder he was called a god.

He laughed. “If I ever sell out, you lot have permission to put me down because I’ve obviously gone rabid.” The record ended, and all at once they stood, heading toward the door.

“Where are you going?”

“To give you your last birthday present,” Romeo said, and Daniel elbowed him while King shot him a glare.

“You’ve already given me so much.” Too much.

A magazine I’d been eyeing from King.

A bracelet from Daniel.

A joint from Romeo, which King promptly confiscated, much to my dismay.

And a new set of wheels for my board from all of them, my favorite present.

“Well, what is it?” I asked when the silence pressed.

“It’s a surprise.” King placed his hand on my shoulder. “You have a comp to sign up for this week, focus on that.” My shoulders fell and I wiggled myself out of his hold. They’d been forcing me to go to those signups for a year now, and for a year, I’d lost and been laughed at.

“I think I’m going to take a break from them.” I kept thinking about what the stranger had said to me, even as I continually failed.

You’re the best one here.

He’d been so certain, and that made me certain too.

But that didn’t match up with what the world thought. I was officially past Flip’s age when he’d first entered a competition and I was watching my opportunities pass me by simply because of my damn gender.

“They won’t laugh this time,” King said.

“That’s not why I don’t want to do them,” I lied, unable to look them in the eyes. “Wait, why won’t they laugh?”

Another pause, then Daniel said, “We’re going to have a polite conversation.”

“How?” All competition officiants told me no, but one in particular had made it his mission to make sure I knew I didn’t belong.

Do you need help, little girl?

This is a male competition.

Maybe the mall would suit you better.

Can’t have you crying and ruining it for the rest.

He lived in Heaven’s Court. You couldn’t get past the gate unless someone let you in. So of course he was the most important, without his say-so I’d never enter a competition anywhere.

When no one responded, I pressed. “Does it have something to do with your reputation? Are you going to do something?” I looked between all three of my gods, trying to find an answer.

King looked away.

They all did.

I chewed on the inside of my mouth. The rest of the town may call them Corrupt, but there was a reason the underground revered them as Rebel Gods. They always offered shelter to anyone who needed it. They were only a few years older than me, had been only teenagers themselves when they took me in, but they raised me.

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