In Control (The City Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

left indents on the cover.
    “Porter!” Mrs. Wilkinson smiled down at him, “You’ve accomplished so much this year, and I look forward to seeing you shine next year.” She held her hand out to him.
    I stood behind Porter, waiting for a chance to tap him on the shoulder.
    “I still think about that paper you wrote about the mystery girl. You know, you never did have a name for her,” Mrs. Wilkinson said.
    “Yeah,” Porter responded, shifting his weight from one leg to the next. “I couldn’t reveal her name. That would have taken all of the fun out of it.”
    Their conversation was taking forever, at least that’s what it seemed like. I was still standing quietly behind Porter, wondering who this mystery girl was and why he couldn’t even say her name. Porter only went out with one girl while he had been here, and that only lasted for one month. I remember the day he broke up with Charlotte. It was outside, right after school had ended. I may have been spying just a little, but no one noticed. I was leaning against a nearby tree, hiding my body from view. Porter and Charlotte were standing on the sidewalk, facing each other.
    “It’s just not working out,” Porter said, his fingers tangling through his hair.
    “How can it not be working out? We’re great together,” Charlotte cried.
    Her strawberry-blonde hair was pulled into a high ponytail. She was the epitome of perfection and everything I could never be. Her skin was pale and marked with light brown freckles that covered her cheeks and nose. Her hair was shiny and straight, falling just below her shoulder blades. She wore clothes that I could only dream of owning.
    “Charlotte, it’s just not working. Okay? I don’t want to date you anymore.” Porter’s tone oozed finality.
    My ears were doing cartwheels and my heart was filled with a million exclamation points. The memory of their breakup gave me the extra push I needed. Now that Porter had talked to me, my tongue was filled with words and questions I was dying to ask him.
    “Ah, the great storyteller!” Mrs. Wilkinson looked at me as she dropped Porter’s hand and reached out for mine.
    Porter turned, smiled at me, and walked out of the room.
    “Kingsley, I’m so proud of all of the wonderful work you’ve done this year. The essays you’ve written have been so moving and detailed. I can see big things happening for you in your future.”
    Mrs. Wilkinson was speaking, but I had no idea what she was saying. I was too focused on Porter’s back moving farther and farther out of the classroom. I couldn’t be rude and cut Mrs. Wilkinson off, but I couldn’t let page 32, the same number of Porter’s locker, go unmarked. I quickly thanked her. She was such a wonderful teacher and one of the nicest people I’d ever known. I said thanks so many times that the word started sounding foreign as it left my mouth. Finally, Mrs. Wilkinson bent down and wrapped her arms around my shoulders, squeezing me into a bear hug. The affection she was giving wasn’t something I was used to. For a moment, I forgot I was in a rush. Mrs. Wilkinson let go, pinching my cheek lightly. With a goodbye wave, I ran out of the room as fast as I could.
    “No running!” A voice so angelic I could make a soundtrack out of it shouted in my direction. I stopped my body, almost toppling over my own feet. Turning around, I saw Porter leaning against one of the nearby lockers. A grin crept up on his rosy cheeks as he studied my face. “Late for something?” he asked.
    “Oh, umm...” I cleared my throat, hoping it would help push the words out. “I... I was actually looking for you.” I looked down at the ceramic tile, making a point to hide my face. I couldn’t believe I confessed the truth. I meant to say something else. Anything else that wouldn’t make me seem like such a stalker.
    “And I was actually waiting for you. I didn’t get a chance to have you sign my yearbook.”
    This day had to be a dream. There was no