Dreadful Sorry Read Online Free PDF Page A

seniors on having only another week to go, commiserating with the members of her own class about the year they still had left. People started dancing fast. She danced with Michael, with Laura's boyfriend, Peter, with Tina's date, Sean—even with Derek.
    "Hey, Moll, I didn't mean anything, really," Derek said during a slow song. "It's just the novelty of seeing a top student in trouble that fascinates me. Makes you more human."
    "They don't come any more human than me," Molly bantered, but she moved slightly away from his close embrace and scanned the crowd for Michael.
    Instead, she saw Kathi waving from the double doors of the house. "Hey, Molly!"
    Kathi? Here? What happened to Lake Pymatuning?
Molly's heart beat faster as Jared stepped in front of Kathi. She felt her face flush and lowered her head onto Derek's shoulder.
    "I like that," he breathed into her hair. He hummed along with the music until the song ended and she broke away. "Hey, Moll! Let me get you something to drink."
    Derek followed her over to the tubs full of ice and soft drinks. They stood together at the edge of the patio, sipping Cokes. Molly watched Kathi making the rounds, introducing her cousin to all her school friends. The pulsing music thudded around her, and the crowd on the patio swelled as more people arrived and were drawn outside by the music. Dozens of bodies leapt in the lamplight now, shrieking and laughing and calling out the words to the songs. And she just stood there, sipping her drink, shivering despite the warmth of the summer night. She saw Jared turn from a group of kids by the pool, laughing, and she felt horribly hollow. But what had she ever done to Jared Bernstein?
    Molly moved closer to Derek and finished her soda. She breathed deeply to reclaim the control she'd vowed to keep. But then suddenly Jared was in front of her, his dark hair springing around his face as he was jostled by some of the dancers. "Want to dance?"
    His brown eyes were level with her own, smiling at her. His voice was deep, deeper than Michael's or Derek's. It sounded somehow so familiar to her.
    "Nah," Derek answered for her. "Moll hates to dance. She'd rather go swimming. Right, Moll?"
    "Wrong," she said, frowning at him. She glanced up at Jared. "Just ignore whatever Mr. Sykes here tells you. He's nothing but a thug and a murderer."
    Jared raised his brows, and Derek, with his evil chuckle, explained about the play. Then Molly and Jared left Derek and moved onto the patio for a slow dance.
    "I thought you were going to be away this weekend," said Molly as they pushed through the dancers to a clear space.
    Jared explained that his uncle, Kathi's father, had unexpected work come up at his office. The trip to Lake Pymatuning was off until next weekend. "I don't mind, though. It's nice to meet Kathi's friends." One hand holding hers, the other firm against her bare upper back, he spun her around. His palm was warm, and she could feel the pressure of all five fingers against her skin. Inexplicably, the wave of sadness assailed her again.
    "I'm
sorry!
" she murmured.
    "What for?" he said. "You didn't step on my feet or anything."
    "Oh, I thought I had," she covered her slip quickly. "You're really good at this. I mean, not like the other guys, just stepping back and forth." She looked down. "You actually move your feet. Have you taken lessons?"
    Where have I seen him before?
    "I've had lessons in everything. I think it was my parents' way of keeping me busy while they were in the field on digs. I took ballroom dancing lessons in Germany one summer while they were exploring Roman ruins. I've had piano lessons and karate lessons and even, don't laugh, basket-weaving lessons. That was in Brazil. And I had swimming lessons every summer until I got good enough to give lessons myself. In fact, that's what I do to earn money now—teach kids to swim. I'm on the swim team at my school, too."
    "You and Kathi," Molly said. "It must run in the family."
    "We're both