Cold Calls Read Online Free PDF

Foster the People,
Avenue Q,
RoboCop
,
World War Z,
and Piranha Sushi Bar & Grill.
    That was everything Eric knew about him.
    So the kid looked up.
    Looked right at him.
    Eye to eye.
    Just for an instant.
    In that instant, Eric knew how it would all turn out.
    And he did it anyway.

Six
    â€œI S THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD BEFORE WE finish up here?”
    Shelly kept her eyes on the brass-and-wood nameplate on the desk— SISTER TERESA KEYES, SSJ, PRINCIPAL —and kept her thumbnail pressed hard against her index finger. It hurt enough to keep her from saying something stupid.
    â€œShelly?”
    â€œNo, Sister.”
    Sister Teresa held her pose—head tilted forward, glasses balanced, one hand propping open a file folder, the other gripping a red pen—waiting for Shelly to look up. When Shelly didn’t, she let the folder close, took off her glasses, and leaned back in her chair. She was the only nun at St. Anne’s, but she didn’t wear a habit. Other than the small gold cross that all but disappeared against her harvest-yellow sweater, she blended in with the other dowdy women at the school—she could have passed as somebody’s mom. Shelly didn’t know her well enough to have an opinion one way or the other, but she was sure Sister Teresa had made up her mind about her.
    â€œStarting at a new school is always difficult,” Sister Teresa said. “There are a thousand emotions going through your head, and at times it can all feel so overwhelming. But that does not excuse your behavior. Would you agree?”
    â€œYes, Sister.”
    â€œNow, you seem like a nice young lady—”
    Face blank, Shelly laughed to herself.
    â€œâ€”and your records from your last school don’t indicate anything to the contrary.”
    Check the other records,
Shelly thought.
    â€œI think this recent behavior is simply a reaction to the stress of moving and changing schools—”
    If only it were that simple.
    â€œâ€”and frankly, I don’t think it’s the kind of thing you’d normally do.”
    You have no idea what I’ve done.
    â€œNow, I could recommend that you be expelled, but I don’t think that would be in anyone’s best interest.”
    Ask Heather what she thinks about that.
    â€œWhen you’ve completed the program I discussed—and your suspension is over—you’ll be welcomed back.”
    Unless you learn the rest.
    â€œBut I think we both know that there’s something bigger going on here.”
    Shelly looked up at the nun, careful not to give anything away.
    â€œThis . . . incident? It’s a symptom of something else, something deeper, something that won’t go away on its own. You need to figure out what’s really behind all of this. And once you know what that is, you need to find a way to deal with it for good.”
    Shelly thought a moment, then nodded. “You’re right, Sister. That’s exactly what I have to do.”
    Â 
    His phone buzzed and Duane’s picture came up, flipping him off.
    There was a chance Eric wasn’t supposed to have his phone. His parents had mentioned something about taking it away when they were picking him up from the principal’s office, but technically they never came out and asked for it. He was holding out, hoping their hard-line approach was only for show. Just to be on the safe side, he went into the garage before answering.
    â€œThat was stupid,” Duane said, that smart-ass smirk in his voice.
    Eric sighed. “Yeah, that’s what they keep telling me.”
    â€œNobody saw it. You should have waited until third lunch.”
    â€œI think a lot of people saw it.”
    â€œFreshmen and band geeks? They don’t count. I mean, if you’re going to do something epic like that, you could at least have the courtesy to do it when I can see it.”
    â€œSorry. I’ll check your schedule next