Last Train Home Read Online Free PDF Page B

laughed.
    “I’m a pseudo-celebrity around here.  Everyone wants to know me.  I thought you knew that,” I grinned.
    “Well, I can see why,” he said as his eyes traveled the length of my body and I felt my cheeks blush. “But, I should’ve assumed you wouldn’t be free on a Friday night.  What about Saturday?”
    “You ’re nothing if not persistent.”
    “What do you say then ?” he continued.
    I scratched my head and pretended I was contemplating, even though I already knew the answer.  He didn’t need to know that though.
    “How ‘bout I call you on Saturday if I’m free.”
    “Are you serious?” he laughed, run ning his hand through his hair.
    “Yes , I’m serious,” I said, closing my locker and smiling flirtatiously at him.
    “Alright then,” he grinned. “See you tomorrow , Riley.”
    He smiled and I watched as he walked away.

Chapter Three
     
    When I walked in the house after school my mom was on the phone.  I didn’t know who she was talking to and I didn’t care.  I ignored her and walked up to the room I was staying in.  I refused to call it my room, because it wasn’t mine.  My room was back in our Boston townhouse.  It was painted dusty purple and I had a queen sized bed with an amazing bedspread I’d found at IKEA.  They probably didn’t even know what IKEA was here.  My old room was perfect.  This room was a tomb. 
    I dropped my backpack on the ground and pulled out my cell phone as I flopped onto the bed.  I hated the old quilt and the room smelled like mothballs.  I desperately needed to get a candle or incents or something. 
    Natasha hadn’t texted me back, but Courtney had.  As usual, she was whining.  This time it was about some supposed cellulite she’d found on her thighs.  I wondered how long it would take for her to develop an eating disorder, if she didn’t already have one. 
    I was texting her back, telling her not to worry and that she was beautiful when I heard a knock on my door.  I knew who it was , and I ignored it.  I heard the knock again, and again I ignored it. Finally, the door opened and my mom stood in the doorway.
    “How was your first day?” she asked trying to engage me the way she had when I still liked her in Boston.
    “Fine.”
    “Ho w were your classes?”
    “Fine,” I said as my fingers continued to maneuver on the phone as I texted Courtney.
    “Do you have any homework?”
    “Yeah.”
    “I was thinking we could all go out to dinner tomorrow,” she said, finally stepping inside the room and sitting down on the foot of the bed.
    “Can’t.   I’ve got plans,” I said, my eyes still staring at the phone.
    “Yeah?   What are you doing?”
    “Just going over to someone’s house.”
    “Whose house?”
    “Jesse’s house.”
    “Who’s Jesse?”
    I’d just about had it with all the questions.  She knew I didn’t want to talk her and she wouldn’t let up.
    “C’mon, Mom.  Are we really gonna do this?” I finally asked as I slammed the phone down on the bed and sat up.
    “Do what?  What are we doing?’
    “You know exactly what we’re doing.”
    “No, I don’t, Riley.  Would you fill me in, please?”
    “ This, Mom.  You and me…talking.  You asking me questions.”
    “I always ask you about your day.”
    “It’s different now and you k now it.  I don’t want to be here.  I want to go home.  I want to be with my friends, not stuck in this crappy town.  You can’t expect me to just be okay and go on like everything’s okay, that we’re okay, because we’re not.”
    “I know this isn’t easy for you, but you don’t need to act this way.  You could at least try and be civil.”
    “Why?  So you can feel better about ripping me away from everything in my life so you can be happy?”
    “That’s not fair , Riley.”
    “No , Mom.  What’s not fair is having to leave everything behind.  My house, my friends, my life.  That’s not fair.”
    “Riley, please.”
    “Do I have to