Building on Lies Read Online Free PDF Page B

shouldn’t matter. I’m just tired of seeing my best friend being treated like she’s less than worthy. Because it’s just not true”.
    I was silent. Ro was right, of course. But if I was okay with sneaking around with Channing, then why couldn’t she be okay with it too? I was a big girl, I could handle myself. And beside, I needed Ro on my side. There was no way I could see Channing unless Ro helped me.
    “ So, are you really going to go to the Winter Dance with Joaquim?" she asked, changing the subject. She didn’t like to fight with me anymore than I liked to fight with her.
    “ Yeah, I guess so," I replied, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do. I wanted to go to the dance with Channing, but there was no way it was ever going to happen. He was going to go with Samantha.
    “ Joaquim sounds really excited about it. I think his Dad is going to lend him his truck night, so we can all ride together," Ro went on.
    “ That’s cool," I said, not really enthusiastic. I had honestly considered skipping the Winter Dance altogether…it was going to be too hard to see Channing dancing the night away with Samantha.
    “ Oh, sorry Joaquim doesn’t drive a super cool Mercedes!" Ro snapped, misunderstanding my lack of interest.
    “ Ro, you know it’s not that, “ I said, quickly. “ Sorry, I’m just distracted. I think it’s awesome Joaquim’s dad is lending him the truck. It’ll be much better than showing up in my broken down Honda.”
    “ You should see the tux Tommy is renting! It’s so elegant, and it has this wine colored trim which is going to match my dress perfectly," Ro said, satisfied with my semi-apology.
    Tommy Garza was Ro’s boyfriend. They’d been dating for over a year. Tommy was also Joaquim’s best friend, and I knew it would make Ro the happiest girl in the world if Joaquim and I really started dating. She had dreams of all of us double dating, and hanging out together, like old times.
    “ We need to go to the mall tomorrow to pick out your dress if you’re really going to go with Joaquim," Ro said. “And I need to make my final payment on my dress. It’s still on layaway. I know you’re all caught up with Channing, but you do have other friends and important stuff going on in your life beside him, right?”
    I nodded, then crawled into my bed. My phone went off just then, and I dove for it. It was a text from Channing. He wanted to know if I’d gotten home safe.
    I giggled, and wrote back I was safe and sound at home. Ro groaned, and went back to studying her text.
    “ Sweet dreams, Nellie," was the last thing he wrote. I switched my phone off because I knew I wasn’t going to hear from him again.
    My mother poked her head in the room just then.
    “ Nellie, how was the mall? Any job prospects?" she asked.
    I shook my head. “ Nope. But I’m going to try again tomorrow”.
    My mother cocked her head to the side quizzically. “ I’m surprised no one has hired you yet. With Christmas coming, I know a lot of the stores need seasonal workers.”
    I shrugged. “ Well, the Heather and Fern store said they’d get back to me”.
    “ Heather and Fern? That’s the place that sells candles and soap, right?" my mom asked.
    “ Yup! I just love all the soaps in that shop. They smell so good. I’d really love to learn how to make my own scented soaps actually," I said, the lie rolling easily off of my tongue.
    “ Did you see Joaquim there? He called for you. Ro told him you were at the mall. I think he told Ro he was going to try and find you there," my mother said, but I couldn’t tell if she’d processed the soap making thing.
    “ Yeah, I saw him. We’re going to the Winter Dance together”.
    My mother smiled happily. “ Oh, good! I really like Joaquim. He’s such a nice boy. Well, good night you two. I’m going to be gone before you wake up. I’ve got a huge project over in Ardsley Park again, and I won’t be back until late tomorrow night”.
    “ Night Mom!" I