Arranged Read Online Free PDF

and over.”
    “All the fun things happen when you’re old.”
    “Thanks for calling me old, young whipper-snapper.” I punch his shoulder. He rolls his eyes.
    I pick out a red blouse and skinny jeans, and pull my hair into a side ponytail. With a bit of lipgloss and liner, I look halfway decent. The drive is quiet and easy – not many people on the road in the days after Thanksgiving. The sky is overcast, and by the time I make it to L.A, it’s dark and moonless. I park in the school lot and walk to Blue Eclipse – club parking is expensive. I join the long line around the building. There are tons of people with ripped-up jeans and heavy eyeliner and hair dyed all colors of the rainbow. There are some people like me, dressed less extravagantly, but we’re the minority. By the time I get past the bouncers, the club is full. The bar is packed and the stage is alight with red and purple spotlights, the music throbbing as a band that isn’t Jen’s plays. The lead singer is a boy with bleach-blonde streaks and a raspy voice. The crowd toward the center of the stage packs tight. They headbang and flail a little, and while it isn’t violent, I make a note to stay towards the back of the crowd. I feel a hand grip my arm – Jen. Her stage makeup is caked on but she looks no less beautiful.
    “You came!”
    “Yeah!” I yell over the music. “Needed a break. I’m so excited to see you guys finally play!”
    “We’ll rock your world,” She winks. “There’s a VIP room backstage. I’ll tell them to let you in. Just say my name to that big guy in the corner, okay? We’re on in thirty, so I gotta go.”
    I smile and nod and she’s gone in a whirl of chains and black lipstick. I feel a little out of place, but the music is great. I let it wash over me, blare out all the tangled thoughts in my head. When I get tired of standing I head over to the VIP bouncer.
    “Hi,” I shout. “I’m Rose, Jen’s friend. She said I could –”
    The man steps aside and opens the door for me. I nervously duck under his arm. It’s cooler and quieter back here – hardwood floors and the walls packed with sound equipment. The narrow hall is lined with doors, one of them says “VIP”. I feel way too special as I open it. A black carpet contrasts with purple walls, blacklight turning everything white a bright blue. A few people sit on the couches and smoke. A man I recognize as Jen’s sort-of manager, Tom, paces the floor as he shouts into his cell.
    “I told you, we can’t come up there tonight, there’s no way – fine! Then tell them we cancel.”
    I settle on an empty couch and glance my fingers through a bowl of hard candy on the glass table. The music is a dull thud through the walls. A girl gets up from the people smoking and sits by me. Her legs are incredibly long and her skin’s a rich amber. Her black hair is wavy and the tiny sequined dress and heels she wears makes me feel completely overdressed.
    “Hey,” She puts out her cigarette and smiles. “You’re a new addition.”
    “I’m Rose. Jen’s friend.”
    “Small world. I know Jen, too,” She laughs. “I’m Grace.”
    There’s an awkward beat as I struggle for something cool to say. Grace beats me to it.
    “I love your blouse.”
    “Thanks. Twenty bucks at a thrift store. I like your dress.”
    “Thanks. I got it for free.”
    “Oh, like, you made it?”
    Grace shakes her head, doe eyes patient.
    “Did you, um,” I falter and whisper. “ S-Steal it?”
    She laughs so loud it makes everyone else look. “Stealing? Oh god, you are one of a kind.”
    “I didn’t mean to offend –”
    “No no, no offense taken.” She waves a slender hand. “I just…no one’s ever accused me of stealing. It’s sort of a thing, you know. With people like me.”
    I furrow my brows. She motions to her face and makes air quotes.
    “‘Pretty’ girls. No one accuses us of anything bad. It gets a little ridiculous after a while.”
    She seems nice, and