Summer on the Short Bus by Bethany Crandell

Author:Bethany Crandell [Crandell, Bethany]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780762451982
Publisher: Running Press

SIXTEEN

“Eating breakfast isn’t supposed to be a painful experience.”

“Try and relax,” Fantine says in a tone more motherly than

I’d think her capable of. “It’s just like Colin said, one step at a time. All you have to do is get through breakfast. Then it’s just us girls the rest of the day. Besides, maybe one night of treating you like the plague was all he needed to get it out of his system.”

I walk into the dining hall and see that Quinn has selected a seat at the corner table with his back toward the rest of the room. By the way he’s inhaling his Frosted Flakes, he won’t be there long. “I’m thinking one night won’t cut it.”

“It’ll be okay,” she says. “He’ll come around, and if he doesn’t, screw him.”

If only I shared her flippant attitude.

Fantine makes her way to her usual spot at the table closest to the door, while I let Meredith roll into her slot and Claire pour herself into her chair. Once they’re settled, I squeeze into the seat between them. The fact that this feels normal now is disturbing.

“Have yoooooou decided what weeeeee’re doooing for the shooow?”

Up until a few days ago, sticking around for battle of the bands wasn’t even an option. To suggest that I’d even thought of what to perform . . . “Uh, no. Did you have an idea?” I regret asking the question the second it leaves my mouth.

“Yes!” Claire interrupts, squeezing my arm. “We have a good idea.”

“But we neeeeeed to talk in priiiiiivate,” Meredith adds, before attacking my other arm.

“Okay, okay, just chill,” I say, shaking them loose. “We’ll talk about it this afternoon.”

I’m reminded that this afternoon marks the first time I will officially be on my own with Claire and Meredith. It feels more like underpaid babysitting than the death sentence I would have expected.

“You will love this idea,” Claire says. “It’s my best ever. And I have a lot of them.” She’s nodding her head so fast I’m surprised it doesn’t pop off.

“Fine. Great. Whatever. Can I eat now?” I pour some 2% into my bowl and am spooning up my first magically delicious clover, when Quinn’s voice draws my attention across the room.

“I’ll meet you guys out there,” he says to the boys at his table. “And be sure to tell Colin you need to collect some rocks on the way. You’ll need at least five for the experiment.”

“You got it, boss!” one of the boys answers eagerly, while the others nod their oversize heads in agreement.

“Cool. See you in a few.” Quinn slides his chair under the table, offering me a glimpse of those broad shoulders I love so much. He pauses, like he’s thinking he might sneak a peek at me over his shoulder.

I sit up a little straighter, quickly adjusting my hair so it falls over my shoulder like Rapunzel’s. The anticipation of those beautiful blue eyes landing on me is almost too much to stand. He’s just about to turn his head .

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.