Dead End Job Read Online Free PDF

then.

Chapter Nine
    I felt trapped.
    I
was
trapped. What could I do? I kept thinking “poor Devin.” There was no way I was going to act like I was interested in him. I wasn’t that stupid. But I couldn’t kick him when he was down, either. I had to be nice to him. He didn’t have anyone else.
    All that week I kept running into him. He was at the library when I went to drop off my books. I saw him at the Dairy Maid when Istopped for an ice cream. He was down by the bridge when I went for a bike ride. Each time I had to walk this really fine line between being nice and too nice. It was so hard. Part of me would just curl up and die when I saw him coming, but I’d put a smile on my face anyway and try to do my best. It was really beginning to get to me.
    That Friday I was at A Stitch In Time, picking up some material for an art project, when Devin walked in. It seemed strange. What was he doing in a dusty old fabric store?
    â€œOh, just browsing. You know,” he said. “What else is there to do around here?”
    How many times had I heard him say that? It was true, but it still kind of bugged me. I had to bite my tongue.
    â€œYou’re lucky,” I said in the nicest voice I could come up with. “At least you’ll be leaving soon.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” he said.
    I didn’t want to bring up anything about Tom telling him to get lost, but that’s what I was thinking. So I said, “Don’t you have to get back for that recording contract?”
    â€œOh, yeah. I meant to tell you,” he said. “I’ve had second thoughts. I’m not sure music is really what I want to do with my life. I’ve kind of gotten into photography. I thought I’d hang around here for a while and work on it.”
    â€œYou’re not taking the contract?”
    He shook his head.
    I felt the blood run out of my face. This was the worst thing that could possibly happen. For me, because Devin would be staying here. But also for him. This sounded like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He’d be crazy to pass it up.
    I told him so.
    â€œI’ve got other once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that are more important to me right now,” he said.
    I didn’t ask what they were. I didn’t even want to consider them. I just begged him not to turn down the recording deal.
    He wouldn’t listen.
    He said his mind was made up. He was going to call the company that day and say thanks but no thanks.
    I couldn’t let that happen! The guy would be ruining his life—and mine, for that matter.
    I looked at my watch. It was after 5:30. I had to go to work. I said, “Please, Devin. Don’t do anything until we can talk about this. Okay?”
    He smiled. He shrugged. He said, “Sure. I’d love to talk to you about it.”
    Now I just had to figure out what to say.

Chapter Ten
    I was late. I’d forgotten some homework at school, but I didn’t have time to pick it up. I had to run all the way to the store.
    That was okay. I was so wound up from talking to Devin, it felt good to burn off some energy.
    Mrs. Abdul was there when I arrived. She looked all puffy and gray. This pregnancy was really hard on her. I told her not to worry about tidying stuff up. She should just go. I’d take care of things.
    I called and asked Leo to get my homework from my locker. Then I braced myself for the suppertime rush.
    An hour later all the Hamburger Helper was gone and I was on my own again. I started to restock the shelves and I thought about Devin.
    I didn’t have a clue how to make him change his mind. He was such a weird guy. I couldn’t figure him out. He twisted everything I said. He just believed what he wanted to believe. It dawned on me that I could end up saying something that would actually make things worse. For a second there, I considered introducing him to my mother. Maybe she could talk some sense into him. Somebody had