Breaking Point Read Online Free PDF

institutions. But isolation is still isolation. And she was probably pissed at me for not showing up last night as promised.
    I caught her eye at breakfast, but she looked away. Damn. I knew I couldn’t walk over to her right then. Not here and not now. Gerard saw me looking. “She’s hot,” he said. “Looks like she’s lost interest in you. Maybe it’s my turn.”
    I gave Gerard a look that could have burned him to the ground, but I didn’t say anything. If I did something stupid, I’d end up in isolation for five days. And then what? I looked back at Brianna and silently mouthed the word, “Sorry.” I think she understood, but she quickly looked away again.
    Later that morning, we were all outside getting lectured by Chris (who seemed to always know everything about everything) on wilderness survival. I wasn’t really paying attention. I heard the part about how rough kayaking can get if the waves come up or if there is strong wind. Then he mentioned that we probably wouldn’t be in the water for the next week. A tropical storm, possibly a hurricane, was headed straight for Nova Scotia. Kids sounded pretty disappointed.
    Then he said we’d take a break, and I cautiously walked over to where Brianna sat.
    â€œWhy didn’t you come talk to me last night?” she asked. She looked both hurt and angry.
    â€œI couldn’t.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    I explained about Chris sleeping in the hall.
    â€œI was scared. I needed you. I hated being alone. I can never, ever do that again.”
    I knew where this was headed. “I know,” I said. “You all right?”
    â€œWe need to talk,” she said.
    â€œHere?”
    â€œSomewhere.”
    â€œLet me say something to Chris. I’ll tell him you aren’t feeling well and I’m just going to walk you in to sit down in the dining hall. I think he’ll let me.” I explained about Philip and my fake mentor role. Mr. Responsible. Mr. Dependable. Mr. Role Model.
    Chris was totally cool about it. I knew I had just moved to another level with him. I knew he thought this camp thing was working—at least for me. But he didn’t have a clue.
    Inside, we sat by ourselves at a table. There were two counselors in with the kitchen staff. They could see us, but they left us alone.
    â€œI’m leaving tonight,” she said. I knew that was coming.
    â€œThen I’m coming with you. Montreal, right?”
    â€œYeah. All we have to do is get to my cousin and she’ll drive us.”
    I felt a chill go down my spine. I didn’t want to do this. But if I didn’t, I’d lose her.
    â€œI don’t think going by kayak is a good idea,” I said.
    â€œIt’s the only way. They’d find us if we went by road, and I don’t think I could find my way through the woods. All we have to do is go east. I figure two or three days of straight paddling and we’ll be at Port Joseph.”
    â€œHow are we going to be sure which way is east?” I asked.
    â€œThere’s a compass built into some of the kayaks.”
    â€œIs that like a GPS?”
    â€œIt’s the old way. I know how to use one.”
    â€œBut didn’t you hear Chris? There’s a tropical storm headed this way. Big winds, big waves.”
    â€œLook outside. It’s beautiful. I say it’s tonight or never.”
    Her mind was made up. I wanted to tell her she was crazy. I wanted to say we’ll never make it. I wanted to say we should just be patient, be good, make it through the rest of our time here, and then we’d be back in the city. But I knew if we did that, she would split and I’d never see her again. Besides, I knew she wouldn’t stay here. She was like a trapped animal.
    I also knew that if Chris or any of them were sleeping in the hallway, we’d never get out without being seen.
    â€œAre you in or out?” It was an ultimatum. She was