Breathe, Annie, Breathe Read Online Free PDF Page A

table, but of course they end up staying a couple hours and throw at least five buckets of peanuts at each other. When they finally pay the check, they split the bill four ways. So annoying.
    Evan gives me a 30 percent tip but won’t meet my eyes when I say thank you. He just pockets his wallet. “You should come out with us after you get off work. We’re camping at Normandy.”
    My face flushes hot. After what happened with Kyle, everybody gave me distance for a few months. But once New Year’s rolled around, life went back to their normal. Guys knew I was single and started asking me out. Did Kyle even cross their minds when I said no?
    Anyway, Evan has been acting weird since February, and I’ve been wondering when this would happen. It must’ve taken him a while to garner the guts, and it makes me feel terrible. He’s a good-looking guy: his brown hair hangs to his eyes and he has great arms, roped with muscles from working in the garage. But I can’t.
    “No, but thank you,” I reply. “I need to sleep in a bed tonight—I’m so sore from running.”
    Evan looks crestfallen. “Maybe next weekend then?”
    I take the damp rag from my apron pocket and start wiping down the round, working to scrub dried, brownish-yellow mustard away. “Maybe.”
    But I know I’ll say no. I already have to listen to my brother doing his girlfriend when I’m at home; there’s no way I’m going camping with them—tents have thinner walls than our trailer.
    “I guess I’ll see you soon, then,” Evan says in a quiet voice. I can’t look him in the eye.
    Nick stops fawning over Kimberly long enough to give me a quick hug. “I’ll be home tomorrow.”
    “Thanks.” I lean into the hug. He subtly stuffs more tip money in my apron, and I give him a smile.
    I wait tables until midnight. Then it’s time for side work. It’s my turn to scrape gum off the bottoms of tables, which is just about the worst task ever. The worst is refilling all the glass ketchup bottles; a good night is when I don’t drop a bottle on the floor. Next, I roll a hundred sets of silverware for tomorrow’s brunch shift, and then I clock out.
    I pull my apron off and search my bag for my keys as I enter the parking lot, and soon I’m tucked in my car. I swipe my cell on, hoping to find messages, even though I don’t really want to deal with anybody. The only text is from Mom, asking me to pull her blue shirt off the clothesline when I get home. Ok , I text back, then scroll through my contacts. I always flick past Kyle’s name quicker than anyone else’s. Really, between him and Kelsey, there’s nobody in the Ks that I can talk to anymore. But that’s sort of true for the As, Bs, and Ws too. I drop my phone in my tote and start the ignition. I drive past Sonic, where kids from school are hanging out over Cherry Limeades and onion rings. My heart pangs when I spot Kelsey’s bright blue Mustang convertible.
    I head to the drive-in movie theater, to the spot I shared with Kyle. I make it in time for the last half of the late showing of Clueless , that Alicia Silverstone movie from the nineties. It’s about this rich, hilarious girl who does nice things for people.
    I buy some popcorn from the concession stand, then sit on the hood of my car and laugh at all the funny parts, wishing he was laughing along with me.

Marathon Training Schedule~Brown’s Race Co.
    Name Annie Winters
Saturday
Distance
Notes
April 20
3 miles
I’m really doing this! Finish time 34:00
April 27
5 miles
Stupid Running Backwords Boy!!
May 4
6 miles
Blister from HELL
May 11
5 miles
May 18
7 miles
May 25
8 miles
June 1
10 miles
June 8
9 miles
June 15
7 miles
June 22
8 miles
June 29
9 miles
July 6
10 miles
July 13
12 miles
July 20
13 miles
July 27
15 miles
August 3
14 miles
August 10
11 miles
August 17
16 miles
August 24
20 miles
August 31
14 miles
September 7
22 miles
September 14
20 miles
September 21
The Bluegrass Half Marathon
September 28
12 miles
October 5
10