The Heartbreakers Read Free Page A

and wiped his lip with his shirt. “I can’t believe you just did that.”
    Caleb leaned over her. “That makes two of us, Raven, ‘cause I can’t believe you cheated on me with a freakin’ band geek.”
    â€œI didn’t cheat on you!”
    â€œOh, yeah, what do you call kissing him, then? Just an innocent gesture between band geeks? Is that something band geeks do?”
    â€œQuit saying that.”
    â€œWhat? Band geeks!” His voice rose every time he said it.
    Raven tried to ignore him and helped Horace to his feet. “Are you okay?”
    â€œI’m alive.”
    â€œOh, sure, Raven. Baby him,” Caleb retorted.
    â€œYou punched him in the face.”
    â€œYou know what?” He spread his arms out. “We’re over.”
    â€œCaleb!” She ran after him. “Stop.” When she reached the living room—the stereo having been muted for the “live” show—Caleb grabbed Tina Strong, a blonde sophomore in the crowd, and kissed her. When he pulled away he said, “How do you like that, Raven?” then disappeared into another room leaving two stunned girls behind.
    Frozen in place, Raven’s mouth hung open, her arms limp at her sides. He did not just do that! Was she partiallyto blame? She had, after all, kissed Horace first. Maybe she deserved it.
    Maybe.
    Head hanging, she made her way back to the mudroom. She wasn’t surprised to find Horace gone. She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes, wishing she could take the entire night back.
    Why was her love life so screwed up all the time? Her best friend, Alexia, would probably say it was because Raven cycled through guys too often, and she picked the wrong ones to go out with in the first place.
    But Raven liked Caleb. So, okay, maybe he had a temper and maybe he was too much of a “guys’ guy,” but when they first started going out, he’d bought her flowers and called her every night to say good night. He’d felt like Mr. Right. She’d thought maybe he’d become her first serious boyfriend. That’s what she wanted—to find someone she could fall in love with. She had tons of guys to pick from. Why couldn’t she find a great one?
    Probably because he didn’t exist. Either that, or she was just destined to be alone. The thought made her nauseous. Alone. She hated being alone. She didn’t want to end up like her mother, who sat home on Friday nights with scrapbooking as her only hobby.
    Lame!
    Raven’s cell rang in her pocket. Her heart sped up. Maybe it was Caleb calling to apologize. She checked the screen. It was Sydney.
    â€œHey.”
    â€œRay?” Sydney’s voice cracked through the phone.
    â€œAre you crying?” Raven asked.
    Sydney sniffed. “Can you come pick me up? I don’t want to be home right now.”
    Something had happened with Drew. Raven just knew it. She set aside her own drama to focus on Sydney. “Of course. I’ll be there in thirty minutes. Okay?”
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œI’ll see you soon.” She flipped her phone closed and left.

THREE
    Kelly Waters checked her reflection in the darkened windows of a closed shoe store. Hmm. She pulled her coat aside to see her figure better. There was a little bit of pudge beneath the back strap of her bra, but otherwise it was a skinny day for her.
    Up ahead, light shone on the sidewalk through the windows of the Birch Falls Art Gallery. Kelly gave her watch a glance and cursed, realizing the opening reception had already begun. She quickened her steps, suddenly thankful that she’d gone with flats instead of high heels. Not only did she leave her house ten minutes late, but the parking downtown was brutal. Though most of the stores were closed, Fredrick’s Restaurant — just down the block from the gallery—was always busy Friday nights. Lots of people from school hung out there this time of