Something Like Fate Read Free Page B

Dad’s rowboat tied to it. Sometimes he rows out to the middle of the lake and does his crossword puzzles there.
    An entire container of glitter just spilled all over the place. Educating the public is never easy.
    Somehow I manage to finish the sign without spilling anything else. Then I lean it up against the wall to dry. My computer dings with an IM. It’s from Erin.
     
     
    aceofwands: omg you are NOT going to believe this!!!
    berrygirl: what?
    aceofwands: jason called me!
    berrygirl: shut up!
    aceofwands: i gave him my number in class today. we just got off the phone.
    berrygirl: details please.
    aceofwands: he wanted to know if i did the homework yet. he said he had a question on it, which we all know is code for he wants me.
    berrygirl: did it even sound like a real question?
    aceofwands: hells no! and that’s not all. i think he’s going to ask me out.
    berrygirl: how do you know?
    aceofwands: just a feeling. oh, and i told him i like him.
    berrygirl: what happened to waiting for him to come to you?
    aceofwands: i did! he’s the one who called me, remember? so i was like, okay, he’s putting himself out there, i can meet the boy halfway.
    berrygirl: what did you say?
    aceofwands: i was just like how i think he’s cute. and funny ☺
    berrygirl: and?
    aceofwands: and he said he had no idea i felt that way.
    berrygirl: boys are so clueless.
    aceofwands: tell me about it. but now he knows. so it’s just a matter of time.
    berrygirl: you go with your fine self.
    aceofwands: thanks, i will. what about you?
    berrygirl: ?
    aceofwands: with greg?!
    berrygirl: how many times do I have to tell you this? i. do. not. like. greg.
    aceofwands: why not?
    berrygirl: *headdesk* um, i don’t know, maybe because we have absolutely nothing in common? at ALL?
    aceofwands: oh. that.
    berrygirl: why do you always act like i never told you this?
    aceofwands: i’m not sure. maybe for the same reason you always act like he’s not the most gorgeous slice of boy you’ve ever seen?
    berrygirl: like that’s the most important thing.
    aceofwands: it doesn’t hurt.
    berrygirl: and it doesn’t help when we have nothing to talk about.
    aceofwands: who’s talking about talking?
    berrygirl: slut.
    aceofwands: stop talking trash about yourself.
    berrygirl: gotta go . . . more signs to do.
    aceofwands: ciao for now.
     
     
    I’m less than shocked that Erin went ahead and told Jason she likes him before she even knew if he liked her. When she wants something, she stays totally focused on that one thing until she gets it. She’s fearless like that.
    I wish I could say the same thing about myself.

5
    In a school as small as ours, you know the names of everyone in your class. There are seventy-three people in our junior class. Most of us have gone to school together since first grade. But that doesn’t mean we actually know one another. I know people by their reputations and who they hang out with and how they act in class. These judgments aren’t based on truth. You can’t ever know the real anybody unless you’re friends with them. And sometimes not even then.
    I don’t really fit into any group. Not anymore. I like doing my own thing. I mean, I obviously relate to the other kids in One World and naturally I get labeled as a tree hugger. I’m not that easy to define, though. I’m not popular, but I’m not unpopular. I’m not a jock, but I’m not inept at sports. I’m not a nerd, but I’m not a slacker. I guess it sounds like I’m pretty average. But I’m not that, either.
    It’s always been hard for me to find people I can relate to. The people in One World are great, but Danielle’s the only one I’m really good friends with. When I try to be friends with people I don’t feel enough of a connection with, things always fizzle out. It’s not worth the effort to put so much energy into building a friendship with someone if you’re just going to drift apart anyway.
    Erin wants me and Blake to be friends with Jason. She