Kasey Screws Up the World Read Free

explain my side of things to everyone I hurt.
    I rushed back to my room and switched on my computer. My fingers twirled across the keys as I composed a blog post. I’d reveal the whole story, every last bit of it. I wouldn’t hold any details back, even if it embarrassed the hell out of me. Even if it made me look bad. Even if I was ashamed to admit it. People wrote memoirs all the time to chronicle the great things they did.
    I’d write one to reveal the horrible things.

KASEY SCREWS UP THE WORLD
    Posted by Kasey at 7:12 P.M.
    Monday, September 1
    Current Mood: Guilt-ridden
    Additional Current Mood: Desperate
    Listening to: Nothing. As if I could sit still long enough.
    SAT Word Of The Day: Pusillanimous. Definition: my gut instinct when it comes to boys—See, this blog is educational!
    If you’re reading this, you’re probably on my list of victims. You most likely want answers, or at least to use these words against me. If you do, I deserve it. Just as you deserve the truth. I promise to reveal all my secrets, and I hope after you read this confession you choose to forgive me. At the very least, maybe revealing the story will help you understand where I was coming from when I screwed you over.
    I think we’re all in agreement that I made a lot of mistakes over the past few months. What you don’t know is none of those mistakes would have happened if I hadn’t tried to be someone I never should have become. So I’ll start my confession—my story—here, back when the only thing I screwed up royally was my History final. Because if I could erase myself out of this scene, Lara would have two working legs, Lonnie wouldn’t have lost the one thing he really wanted, I’d still have my position on the dance team and a lot more friends—especially my best friend—and the world would be a better place without me. The only thing I still wouldn’t have is Finn.
    Here goes nothing…
    I’d never been on a cruise before. Actually, I’d never been on a family vacation that wasn’t to my grandparents’ house in Florida. But Lara’s scholarship to Tysh University lessened our parents’ financial responsibilities. This wasn’t a vacation. It was a celebration. And when it came to Lara, there was always something to celebrate.
    After a long day of travel, my family walked through the lobby to dinner and entered a sea of chatter and piano music. Tiny blue lights twisted around every rail and banister, reflected in the glossy black floor. My nose twitched at as a bouquet of perfumes ignited a battle of vanilla versus sandalwood versus lavender to create a unique scent that couldn’t be reproduced by a manufacturer.
    Surrounding the atrium, passengers gathered around photo walls that showcased the pictures taken with the captain when we had first entered the boat. “Let’s look for ours,” Mom said as she detoured through the crowds. Lara rolled her eyes but I dutifully followed along.
    As I approached, a few people stopped what they were doing and stared at my sister, a cliché reaction we’d both grown used to by now. She joined my side and gave them what they wanted: a heave of her chest and a flirty batting of her eyelashes. I gave them what they wanted, too, by staying quiet and invisible next to her.
    “You look great in this one, Lara.” Mom pulled our photo off the wall.
    Eager to focus my attention on something other than the ogling crowd, I started toward Mom, but before I could, Lara grabbed my arm. “Oooh, Kasey, check it out! Finally someone our age.” She abandoned her spectators and nodded toward a photo of two boys standing with their parents. So far, we’d only passed by people who had been alive when Starbucks didn’t exist. “That tall boy could beat out all fifty contestants in a pageant congeniality contest.” She sighed. “What do you think?” She gazed at me with hopeful eyes.
    In the picture, the taller boy eyed the camera like he was hitting on the girl taking the photo. The short