Insight Read Online Free PDF Page A

along. Anyone would know he’s a nice guy within minutes of meeting him. When I finish my snack, they both have their elbows on the table, and they’re laughing about some band I’ve never heard of.
    “Excuse me for a sec.” I stand. “I’ll be right back.” I’m ready to look down at Mom so I can give her some signal that I’m totally okay, but she isn’t looking at me. That was fast. Mom’s probably already in deeper than I’ve ever seen her. I wish that didn’t come with a pang of something heavy in my chest.
    I step outside and slump in one of the chairs on the porch, resting my feet on the railing in front of me. From here I can see down to the ferry dock. It’s almost the same view we have from our apartment.
    “Jessica. When you asked for a ride, I didn’t know it would take forever .” Landon. They’re just out of his black mustang, and walking up the sidewalk to the pub.
    I keep staring down at the docks, hoping, praying, that I won’t be noticed.
    “It’s just a drink, silly. I’m thirsty.”
    Out of the corner of my eye I see her try a seductive smile. She has pretty, smooth, dark blonde hair with highlights and the kind of thin, athletic body that most girls would kill for. Landon opens the door, and she runs a finger across the lower part of his stomach. His face stops, and I know. I just know he’s looking at me.
    “I’ll wait for you out here.” He lets the door go before she has a chance to say anything else.
    Don’t look. Don’t look. Don’t look…
    “Hey, Micah. Right?”
    I only half turn my head toward him. “Yeah.”
    “Do you need a ride somewhere?” He takes a few steps toward me, standing close now. Close enough to touch. My fingers twitch as I wonder if I’d still see the ocean.
    Should I look up at him? Should I not? I don’t know what to do. “It sounds like you have your hands full.” I smirk and let myself turn toward him. His hair hangs further over his eyes tha n normal as he looks down, giving me butterflies. I do not want to be feeling this for Landon, especially when it seems fairly obvious that half the girls in the school feel the same way. With the arrival of Jessica, I’m starting to wond er where they all come from .
    “You could say that.” He lets out a breath as his eyes glance briefly at the door of the pub, and runs a hand through his shaggy hair. It’s actually refreshing that he’s not following Jessica like a lovesick puppy or something. Though, maybe he’s already dated her once, and now she’s old news.
    “Where’s Brigitte?” I hold in a laugh as I think about her little rant over her name. “Or Lacey?”
    “Right.” He looks almost annoyed. “Landon and girls. Look… Lacey’s a friend, more like a cousin, and Brigitte…” He sighs again as he stuffs his hands in his pockets.
    Then I think about what I saw from Brigitte, Landon’s lips against hers and how it felt. I look away because feeling him like that makes this conversation way more personal to me than it would be to him.
    “Did I offend you or something?” he asks as he leans forward trying to catch my eyes.
    “Ready?” Jessica pushes her way through the doors onto the porch and speaks a little louder than necessary.
    Her attention is immediately drawn to me, and I stare directly at the ferry dock down the hill. Even though I’m not looking directly at her, I can see her shift her weight to one leg and cross her arms over her chest. This is teenage girl speak for don’t talk to me. We’re not friends. And you’re too close to something that’s mine, or that I want to be mine.
    The thing is—I wouldn’t mind seeing the vision from Landon again. The ocean from him felt like the ocean feels for me…alive.
    “See ya, Micah.” Landon starts toward his car, and Jessica loops her arm through his as s he flashes a glance at me over her shoulder. Probably just to make sure I know who Landon ’s here with.
    My chest falls as his car pulls away. How long have