Along Came Jordan Read Free Page A

forgive you. Hey, Margo, Laine has her claws out."
    "Does she? What now?"
    "About Emili. She's not too fond of the new girl."
    I shrugged. "I didn't do a thing to her."
    Margo stepped back and squinted, surveying me up and down. "I can see it. You're too cute, and you're an unknown. If there's one thing Laine can't stand, it's an unknown. She's threatened, right?"
    "You got it," Sally said.
    "I repeat — I didn't do a thing to her." I no sooner got the words out of my mouth when Laine appeared right smack in front of me.
    "Private Girl," Laine said. "Day two. How nice you survived day one. We're having a council meeting after school. Be there."
    She turned away, then swirled back around and put on her fake smile, showing smooth even teeth. "I mean, please come. You'll like it. Since you're new, you'll meet more people. You'll be there, right?"
    "I take the bus…"
    "I'll give you a ride home. No problem."
    I didn't want to go, but I could hardly say, " I don ' t like you, so no . I won ' t be coming. " Besides, there was my whole self-promise thing about being friendly.
    Laine stood waiting, her hand on her hip.
    "Yeah, okay. I'll call Dad after school and tell him I'll be late."
    "Great. Room 136." She was off.
    "See what I mean?" Sally asked. "Threatened."
    Margo shook her head. "You told her yes. Are you nuts?"
    "She caught me off-guard. I didn't know what to say."
    "You'll learn," Sally said. "We'll expect a full report tomorrow."
    I put my fingers to my lips. "Uh oh. I forgot about my little sister Sarah. She'll wonder why I'm not on the bus."
    "Can't your dad tell her?" Sally asked.
    "Yeah, I guess he could." I didn't think it was a good plan, but I had no other ideas.
    I was relieved the day was passing with no major mishaps. Now I wouldn't have to pretend and tell my dad lies. Dad still had his part-time job at McDafe's selling copiers, so he worked a few hours each morning. But every afternoon, he vegetated on the couch like a shrunken-up homeless man. When I was around him, something cold and queasy snaked up from the pit of my stomach. It didn't used to be that way, but then he never used to hang onto every comment I made as if he was desperate.
    Before he lost his other job, I rarely saw him. Now, I saw him too much. I loved him, but having him always there, always asking me questions, always cranking out forced smiles — well, it made me want to squirm.
    After seventh period, I meandered to room 136, which was already filled with a bunch of kids. I recognized some of them from my classes, but others I'd never seen. Laine was in front, puffing out her chest and wearing her pompous in-charge smile.
    She clicked a pencil against the projector. "People, people! Come to order!"
    A teacher I didn't know sat in the back, slouched over a stack of papers. He surveyed each sheet, his red pen scribbling at a furious pace. Glad he wasn't grading my stuff.
    Laine cleared her throat. "Let's get this meeting underway. Before we start, I want to introduce a new student, Emili Jones." She smiled and nodded toward me as though we were best friends. "She'll be helping us."
    I would? I didn't have a clue what was involved.
    "Our only order of business today is to discuss the Winter Ball. You should remember which committee you're on. If you don't, Janae has it all recorded. I'll need a status report from each chairperson by the end of the hour."
    Laine droned on, and I tuned out. I didn't want to hear about any ball — I wouldn't be going. After my stupid decisions and being betrayed by my "prize" guy, I'd given up on the whole dating game.
    "People, get in your committees. We need some serious progress today," Laine directed.
    Everyone grouped up. I stayed put and tried not to look bored, but Laine came right over.
    "What committee do you want me to put you on? We've got decorations, food, tickets, finding chaperones, music. Wait, I think we've already got enough people on food and tickets, so forget those."
    "Uh,