Heavenly Read Free Page B

down the street, "It's embarrassing. We can't go anywhere together. What are we going to do, break up our lives into shifts forever? You go with Dad to dinner first, then Mom and I go later? As it is we can't go on any trips together. We're stuck with Abria and that sucks. She hates going anywhere. I feel like I live in prison."
    Luke reached into his pocket and started tapping out a text to someone. "Can you drop me at Sam's?"
    I glared at him. "He's a loser, why do you hang out with him?"
    "I don't know."
    I did, and my anger shifted. "Is he selling you weed?"
    Luke stared out the window.
    "You'd better not come home high. That's the last thing Mom and Dad need right now."

    He didn't say anything.
    "I'm not taking you to a druggie's house," I spat, turning toward Britt's street. I didn't know what I'd do with him, but there was no way I was going to escort him to druggie hell.
    "We won't smoke," he protested.
    "You can pull the wool over Mom and Dad's eyes but I've seen you wasted. They have enough to worry about, Luke,
    without worrying about you. Grow up."
    We came to a stop sign and he busted out of the door, slamming it behind him. He took off across the street in a jog
    without looking back. I pounded the heel of my hand on the horn. Luke didn't turn around.
    Forget it. I screeched off in the direction of Britt's, my blood at a roar.
    I was fairly sure my parents didn't know about Luke's marijuana habit—they were far too preoccupied and the constant
    severity of Abria's affliction provided a perfect curtain to veil Luke and me from their vision.
    I was, by no means, without my own secrets. But I'd never touched drugs or smoked cigarettes, both habits I deemed
    for losers. Deep inside, I hurt. Luke wasn't a loser. However, I easily swept him into a corner with the rest of the world
    hooked on disgusting habits.
    I checked my rearview mirror to see if he was anywhere in sight. I closed my eyes a moment, swamped by guilt,
    knowing I'd basically abandoned him to Sam and an evening of getting high when I should have taken him home.
    He's sixteen, I thought. He can take care of himself. Just like I can.

     THREE 

    I pulled up next to Britt's house and texted her that I was outside. She was never ready on time, and I waited, the
    heater and music blasting. Her parents liked to think they were progressive allowing Britt and her friends to come and go
    whenever, but I'd lived long enough with my parents and the fragile situation with Abria that I never assumed an open door
    really meant walk-in-any-time. Every family had stuff they didn't want the world to witness.
    Soon, Britt came out, her tall leggy form in glove-fit jeans, baggy sweater with fringe on the arms, her long straight
    blonde hair swinging to the rhythm of her runway model stride.
    She stopped, posed and laughed. I laughed, too, realizing how good it felt—the first laugh I'd had all day.
    "I'm so ready for tonight," Britt said, once inside the car. She tossed her retro suede bag into the backseat and brought the door closed.
    "You?" I pulled out onto the road. "I'm ready to kill somebody."
    "Your mom again?" Britt pulled down the visor. The mirror lit and she gazed at her angular face in the mirror.
    "Everyone. Mom was sulking around like someone was going to die if she didn't die first. But I'm totally disgusted
    with Luke. He's hanging out with Sam Penrod."
    "The drug guy?" Britt looked at me.
    "Yeah."
    She slapped the mirror shut. "Man. What is it with Luke, anyway?"
    "Who knows? I'm sick of trying to figure him out." "Sorry you've had a lousy day, hon." She patted my shoulder. "I know just the thing to cheer you up."
    I doubted anything could blast me out of my foul mood. "Is it male? Cause that's what will cheer me up, that's what I
    need right now. Where am I going, anyway?"
    Britt laughed and cranked up the music so we'd have to shout. "Weston Larsons house."
    My eyes met hers. I grinned. "No way." She nodded, pleased to have delivered good