Flat-Out Love Read Online Free PDF

you will
not
get the schedule you want. At least you get to register online and avoid waiting in a line with lots of annoying people.”
    “So you think all my fellow students will be annoying? I
was
hoping to make friends, but now I don’t know…”
    Celeste snapped the book shut. “Normal people can become very annoying if put in annoying situations.”
    “That’s true. Then you’re right. I’m glad I’m registering from home.”
    Celeste leaned her head back against the couch. “Did you have lots of friends at home? What about a boyfriend? I bet you have a boyfriend. Is he very handsome?”
    “I still have lots of friends at home. They didn’t evaporate when I left. I just won’t be seeing them as much now that I’m in Boston. I used to have a boyfriend, and yes, he was cute, but he was also a brainless pain in the neck.”
    “Do you have pictures of everyone?” Celeste asked.
    “Of course.” Julie opened her photo program and scrolled through albums until she found a set of pictures from August. “These are from my going-away party. My mom threw a barbecue in our backyard.”
    “You had a big party? It looks wonderful,” Celeste said breathlessly.
    “Yeah. Hot dogs, congealed macaroni salad, a cake with my name misspelled, the whole works. OK, there I am with Kristen and Mariam. And here’s one of Amy and my mom.” Julie scrolled through countless pictures while Celeste demanded details on nearly everything.
    “Do you have a picture of your father?”
    Julie continued pulling up photos. “Nope. He was away on business. But he did send me the most technologically advanced phone there is as a gift. And he called during the party.”
    “That was a kind thing for him to do. Sometimes my own father is unable to be present for events, but I do not get a phone call.”
    “Oh.”
    “One time my father opted to have Matt leave paper dolls under my pillow. Mini Flat Finns. I found that a clever and unusual way to express that he missed me.”
    “That is a very cool idea. I like it.”
    “He does not do that very often, though. I wish he would.”
    This is something that Julie understood. It was hard to have an absent parent, even when that parent adored you.
    Celeste pointed to the screen. “Is that your cake?”
    “Cute, huh?”
    “Who’s that? You had a band playing? Is that your boyfriend? Your dress is very pretty.” Celeste wanted every detail. “Where did you buy that? How did you get in and out of it? Your boobs look huge! No wonder you had a boyfriend!”
    “First of all, the dress is not that tight. It’s
fitted
. And my boobs look regular sized. And we’re not talking about my boobs. But, yes, the party was really fun. I didn’t want anything too fancy, so it was perfect. So what kind of birthday parties do you have?” Julie asked.
    Celeste looked straight ahead, seemingly transfixed by something on a shelf. “I do not really do parties anymore. They never work out terribly well for me,” she said simply. “We have to show Flat Finn that red dress. He is going to love it! And the one of you at graduation. You look so happy getting your diploma.”
    Celeste pushed the blanket aside and retrieved the cardboard cutout of her brother, which she’d left by the piano in the small room off of the main hall. According to Celeste, Flat Finn loathed practicing scales, but he knew that Erin would never forgive him if he slacked off. Even cardboard brothers felt obligated to please their parents. Celeste entered the room carrying the cutout in front of her, eerily giving the impression that Flat Finn was able to glide around by himself. She stood him nextto the coffee table near Julie and adjusted the panels by his feet that kept him standing, struggling to make him balance on the thick rug.
    “Come on, Flat Finn!” she muttered, the wavering figure looming over her. She looked up to his head, her blond curls falling off her face and revealing the determination in her eyes. “Please!”