Into the Woods Read Online Free PDF Page A

you’ve gotten? “You graduated, right?” he added, turning.
    “Duh.” I scuffed my feet and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I’d graduated, but admitting I’d flunked every ley line class I had taken wasn’t anything I wanted to do.
    “Got a job yet?”
    My eyes flicked to the application. “I’m working on it.” Living at home while going to college hadn’t been my idea, but until I could afford rent, I was kind of stuck here, two-year degree or not.
    Smiling with an irritating understanding, Robbie slid into the chair across from me, his long legs reaching the other side and his thin hands splayed out. “Where’s The Bat? I didn’t see it in the drive.”
    Oh . . . crap . Scrambling up, I headed for the coffeemaker. “Wow, that smells good,” I said, fumbling for two mugs. “What is that, espresso?” Like I could tell? But I had to say something.
    Robbie knew me better than I knew myself, having practically raised me. It had been hard to find a babysitter willing to take care of an infant prone to frequently collapsing and needing shots to get her lungs moving again. I could feel his eyes on me, and I turned, arms over my chest as I leaned back against the counter.
    “Rachel . . .” he said, then his face went panicked. “You got your license, didn’t you? Oh my God. You wrecked it. You wrecked my car!”
    “I didn’t wreck it,” I said defensively, playing with the tips of my hair. “And it was my car. You gave it to me.”
    “Was?” he yelped, jerking straight. “Rache, what did you do?”
    “I sold it,” I admitted, flushing.
    “You what!”
    “I sold it.” Turning my back on him, I carefully pulled the carafe off the hot plate and poured out two cups. Sure, it smelled great, but I bet it tasted as bad as the stuff Mom bought.
    “Rachel, it was a classic!”
    “Which is why I got enough from it to get my black belt,” I said, and he slumped back, exasperated.
    “Look,” I said, setting a cup beside him and sitting down. “I couldn’t drive it, and Mom can’t keep a regular job long enough to get a month’s worth of pay. It was just taking up room.”
    “I can’t believe you sold my car.” He was staring at me, long face aghast. “For what? To be able to dance like Jackie Chan?”
    My lips pressed together. “I was mad at you, okay?” I exclaimed, and his eyes widened. “You walked out of here after Dad’s funeral and didn’t come back. I was left trying to keep Mom together. And then everyone at school found out and started pushing me around. I like feeling strong, okay? A car I couldn’t drive wasn’t doing it, but the gym was. I needed the money to get my belt, so I sold it!”
    He looked at me, guilt shining in the back of his eyes.
    “You, ah, want to see what I can do?” I asked hesitantly.
    Robbie’s breath came in fast, and he shook himself. “No,” he said, gaze on the table. “You did the right thing. I wasn’t here to protect you. It was my fault.”
    “Robbie . . .” I whined. “It’s not anybody’s fault. I don’t want to be protected. I’m a lot stronger now. I can protect myself. Actually . . .” I looked at the application, my fingers cold as I reached for it. I knew he wouldn’t approve, but if I could get him on my side, we might be able to convince Mom—and then I wouldn’t have to wait. “Actually, I’d like to do more than that.”
    He said nothing as I pulled the paper out like a guilty secret and shoved it across the table. My knees went weak, and I felt the hints of lightheadedness take over. God, how could I ever hope to be a runner if I didn’t have enough nerve to bring it up with my brother?
    The sound of the paper rasping on the table as he picked it up seemed loud. The furnace clicked on, and the draft shifted my hair as I watched his gaze travel over the paper. Slowly his expression changed as he realized what it was. His eyes hit mine, and his jaw clenched. “No.”
    He went to crumple the paper, and I