A Penny's Worth (The Cephas Bourdon Series) Read Free

primping.
    “Chase totally wanted to hang out with you tonight. Anyway, so where do you want to go for the game? I was thinking we could to Iggy’s, or maybe Brandon’s basement . . . ”
    I glanced over to see Marian applying a fresh coat of lip gloss, her hands flailing as she explained whatever happened to be important at the moment. The air seemed silent somehow — Marian’s mouth was moving, but I heard nothing. Why didn’t I want to hang out with Chase? I always hung out with him, but somehow never really enjoyed our time together. It’s not that he wasn’t attractive or charming — in fact, every girl in school wanted to date my boyfriend. Somehow, though, I always felt out of place. I should be happy — as far as high school went, my life was a dream come true. Maybe I was just ungrateful. Or maybe I just didn’t belong with Chase. It’s not like I didn’t feel good enough for Chase or that I felt too good for him . . . I sure seemed to have a long list of what wasn’t the reason for my attitude.
    I scoffed as m y eyes shifted back to the road. I looked in the distance towards the purple mountains. The sun was settling down and gray clouds tumbled over the horizon. Gray and violet twisted through the bubbling sky, slowly surfing closer, closer. The car sailed toward the ominous sky, speeding faster, faster. I glanced to the left, my head slowly twisting to look out the driver’s window. A lit house caught my attention. I blinked, not believing what I saw. I blinked once, then twice. Smoke cascaded out of the chimney and light flickered through the main floor’s side window. That house had been vacant for as long as I could remember. Who would move into that old, abandoned house?
    “Emmaline!” someone shouted beside me. My eyes flicked back to the road, widening as my knuckles turned white. I gripped the wheel with both hands and squinted my eyes — I was in the wrong lane. Marian was bracing her body in the passenger seat, holding firmly to the chair and pushing her feet against the floor with all the strength she could muster. A small yelp escaped her lips while her hands flew upward to shield her face.
    The car seemed to move in slow motion, and I glanced from the windshield to Marian, and back to the windshield. My life didn’t flash before my eyes, and I didn’t scream as did my helpless best friend. I felt a strange comfort, like I might die — and I didn’t mind. Then high school would be over. True, I would never become a reporter like my mother, and my father would be miserable for the rest of his life. I shook my head, suddenly appalled that I would even think of such an idea as allowing myself to crash head long into a semi - truck. In an instant, my instincts kicked in and I swerved sharp to the right, straightening out and slowing slightly. What had I been thinking? I was losing it, for sure.
    “Gosh, girl. Watch the road, would ya? Or at least just stay on your side, eh?” Marian replied nonchalantly. I glanced sideways at my friend. She didn’t know I had just had a crazy person moment, but somehow I was offended she didn’t know. Marian was a good friend, but she more often than not noticed more about herself than anyone else. I looked back to the road as she giggled a little and flipped the mirror back down.
    “So what do you think?” she asked, interrupting my reverie.
    “What?” I asked. A confused look marred my face as I snapped back into reality. “What did you say?”
    “Oh my gosh, girl. Have you not heard a work I’ve been saying?” Marian retorted, drawing out the beginning of every word. Her eyes were wide and her mouth elongated as she related her previous concern.
    “I said — I’m thinking about wearing that black shirt to the bonfire tomorrow night. You know, the one that comes all low right here and makes my waist look super skinny?” Her hands moved to emphasize her imaginary neckline and waist. “So, what do you think?” she asked