Dream Smashers Read Online Free PDF Page B

these
days?”
    “Exactly. So, what’s your deal? I’m not like
you.”
    “I see. You’re like Mrs. Fancy Pants in the
convertible, right?”
    “It’s not Mrs. Fancy Pants. It’s Ms.
Lightheart and whatever. Can we just go eat? I’m starving.” I open
the front door. The heat of the restaurant blasts us as we step
in.
    He looks like his picture, but different. His
hair, a darker shade of blond, his face a paler shade of cream, but
his clear blue eyes are the same. They sparkle, a welcoming light
that must come from within because the dim room shines no
light.
    His gaze finds us in the entry. He stands and
waves. He and Rainy’s date saves a booth in the back, next to the
arcade.
    “Looks like you have the cute guy this time.”
Rainy searches the ground, pretending she’s not talking. “So not
fair.”
    “Yeah, he is cute in real life too, huh?” I
smile when I speak so that my lips don’t move. “What’s your guy’s
name again?”
    “Caleb. He looked a ton cuter in his
picture.” We approach the boys. “Hi. I’m Rainy and this is
Autumn.”
    Caleb stands to shake Rainy’s hand. “Hi. It’s
so good to finally meet you.” The skin on his chubby face turns
pink. I can only imagine how clammy his hand feels. He looks
similar to Evan, but redder, blonder and chubbier.
    “Hey. I’m Evan.” He gives me a hug. Whoa
there cowboy. He doesn’t notice my hesitation. “Would you like a
soda or something? We’ve already ordered a pizza.”
    “Thanks, dude. I’ll have a Coke,” Rainy
says.
    “Okay. How about you, Autumn? Would you like
something?”
    “Uh, yeah. But I can totally pay for
myself.”
    Rainy rolls her eyes.
    “Oh, it’s no problem. Please, allow me,” Evan
says.
    “Yes, allow him.” Rainy mimics Evan’s tone,
but with sarcasm.
    I sigh. “I’ll have a root beer. Thanks.”
    “My pleasure.”
    I follow Evan to the counter. “What kind of
pizza did you get?”
    “Pepperoni?” It sounds like a question. “I
hope that’s okay.”
    “Oh, yeah. It’s my favorite. I’m glad you
didn’t get veggie.” Vegetables initiate the gag reflex. Grams hates
when I barf vegetables every time she cooks them.
    The server steps to the counter. “What can I
get you?”
    “We’d like three Cokes and a root beer,
please,” Evan says.
    He turns to me. “So, have you ever been here
before?”
    “Yeah. My grandparents used to bring me here
all the time when I was younger. I haven’t been here in a while
though.” I pause. “How ‘bout you?”
    “This is my official first time.”
    “Okay? Was there an unofficial first
time?”
    “Sorta. Last week, remember?” He raises an
eyebrow.
    “Uh, nope. What do you mean?”
    “Last Friday, when we were supposed to meet
here.” His eyes shift to the table and then back to me. “You were
in a fender-bender on the way here and didn’t have a cell phone?”
He pauses. “Why do you look confused?”
    I’m going to kill her. “Oh, yeah…yeah. That’s
right. Psssh. How could I have forgotten that? It’s been a long
week, I guess.”
    We carry the sodas to the table. Rainy and
Caleb stare at everything but each other.
    “Don’t you two look cozy.” I kick Rainy in
the shin as I sit down.
    “Ow! What’s that for?” She bends to rub her
leg.
    “Sorry. Accident. I need to use the bathroom,
wanna come with me?”
    “Do I have to?” she asks.
    I glare. “You bet.”
    She rolls her eyes and climbs out of the
booth, as slow as a slug in the sun.
    “What did you do?” I open the restroom door.
We enter into a wall of Lysol and urine air.
    Rainy waves her hand in front of her face.
“Do you have to pee or what? Hurry up.”
    “Don’t you think I should know if I was in a
fender-bender?”
    “Okay.” Rainy nods as if understanding just
smacked her. “Get this, we were so gonna go out with these guys
last week, but I forgot. No biggie. I didn’t want them to feel bad
or nothing, so I made up the fender-bender deal.” She