Destiny (Waiting for Forever) Read Online Free PDF

eighteen and Ryan is more established in the Marines, you’ll have a stronger place to start.” I took a deep breath and tried not to think about the fact that I had just told her to do exactly the same thing my family and friends had tried to tell me all last year. I should stay in Alabama, go to college, and start out looking for Jamie with a stronger foundation. The difference between Sarah and me was that I had a plan and I was an adult, or so I tried to tell myself, anyway.
    “I can’t call my parents; they’ll be furious,” she whispered, and for just a moment, she looked much smaller and much younger than sixteen.
    “Maybe later, after they know where you are and that you’re not hurt.” I didn’t want to bring it up, but I knew I should. “Think about what almost happened in that bathroom and what could happen to you once you get to San Diego and you’re all alone.”
    “I… I don’t know,” Sarah said softly, taking a drink of the soda she’d gotten at our last stop.
    “Let me see your cell phone,” I told her, wondering if she would comply. Sarah was so close to calling her parents, but I just didn’t think she could force herself to dial the phone. She looked at me for a long minute before pulling her phone and the battery out of her bag. I took them from her and popped the back off the phone. Working slowly, I gave her time to stop me, but she didn’t, and I knew I had made the right decision. Checking the connectors, I lined up the battery with the slot on the back and plugged it in, replacing the plastic back.
    “Let’s just see what happens now,” I told her, guessing it wouldn’t be long before her parents called the phone. If it were Richard and Carolyn, they probably would have called every hour until they’d gotten me, even if for the first two days the phone went straight to voice mail.
    She didn’t say anything else but dropped the phone in the front of her bag and pulled out a dog-eared paperback. While she read, I pulled out my own phone and clicked on Adam’s name. Even though I knew it would be better to let him get on with his life, I had a selfish urge to talk to him. I needed his comfort, especially after talking with Sarah about how frantic her parents must be and how stupid her impulsive trip was. I created a new text message and started to type.
    [Brian]: Busy?
    While I waited for the reply I wasn’t sure would come, I wondered what Adam was doing. I hoped the excitement of going off to college had overshadowed the anger and hurt he felt because of my decision to leave. He’d become a good friend to me when I’d needed one, and I felt guilty about what I’d put him through. One of my biggest fears was that I had hurt him so deeply that he would resent me, ruining our friendship. It was selfish, but right then I felt so alone. As I started to put it back into my bag, the phone chirped, and I smiled in spite of my doubts.
    [Adam]: Packing to go—you save the world yet?
    Smirking, I hit reply.
    [Brian]: One lost boy at a time.
    It took a few minutes for him to respond, probably because he was busy fitting his whole life into suitcases as I had done to leave yesterday. God, had it really been just yesterday?My phone chirped again, and I looked down.
    [ Adam]: How’s it going so far?
    Carolyn had assured me before I left that the plan they had selected included unlimited texting, but I still wondered if I should tell Adam about the bathroom. It would be almost cruel to tell Richard or Carolyn about it because they were already worried enough about me. I didn’t feel close enough to Kyle, even though we’d spent months together while he oversaw my homeschooling. He had given me his number in case I needed it. I wanted to talk about it, and I knew Adam would understand. The whole incident had brought two things into sharp focus for me. First, and most importantly, I was alone. I’d been so isolated for the past year; it didn’t occur to me that I would feel so