Nothing Else Matters Read Online Free PDF Page B

to a random page. Though it was a disease she was already familiar with, she continued reading anyway. She had read every book in her collection cover to cover when she couldn't sleep at night and was slowly becoming an expert in rare diseases. She wished she had developed this habit before her mother died. But then again she had been only five.
    She wondered if she would be able find anything about what had been ailing Scott. Ugh, she was thinking about him again. She slammed her book shut and got ready to head to the center.
      Reyna turned the key to the Raymond Lewis learning center on America Street in downtown Charleston. Nothing happened. Jammed again, she thought. She pounded her fist on the door in frustration. The center named for her late grandfather frequently had problems with this door.  It was still a little dark outside, which unfortunately made her nervous. America Street was one of the most dangerous areas in Charleston. She hated feeling afraid around her own people, but she did. The center had been robbed three times already and she didn't want to have to hang around outside and wait for a locksmith or someone to help her in. Instead, she walked around to the side of the building and found a window that was probably unlatched. She built up three milk crates, climbed them, and then forced the window open. As she dangled half in the window and half out an eerie feeling befell her. It was kind of like déjà vu but in reverse. It felt like a future memory.
    It took a great deal of upper body strength but she somehow managed to pull herself up and crawl through the window. She was grateful for the pull-ups Scott made her do when she sat in on practice with the football team sometimes.
    Once in the building, she was able to jimmy the door open from the inside to let in the students for the Saturday help session. Reyna started this Saturday ritual three years ago when she noticed that the black students consistently made lower grades. She also noticed that the white students had more access to help. She decided she wanted to level the playing field. Three years later, nine of the twelve black students were on honor roll or Headmaster's list. And she and Clayton, another black student, were candidates for Valedictorian.
      "I can't do this, Reyna. I'm stupid," Shawan said with tears in her eyes.
      "You're not stupid and I don't ever want to hear you say that again." Reyna sat down next to Shawan at the table cluttered with geometry books and notes. She wrapped her arm around her and let her cry.  "Look, you're gonna get the hang of it. We'll figure it out together," Reyna assured her as she wiped the tears off of Shawan's chubby round cheeks. She knew how overwhelmed she felt. Reyna could remember her first few weeks at Charleston Prep in the sixth grade. She felt lonely, unsure, and lost. If it hadn't been for Scottie's reassuring friendship she may have crumbled under the pressure as well. He probably didn't even know what an effect he had on her.
    Sometimes teachers didn't realize that every factor of a teenager's life played into their academic performance when they piled on the work. Shawan might never succeed at Charleston Prep if she didn’t feel she fit in or didn’t feel comfortable. Reyna wanted to make sure she got the reassurance she needed.
      After giving her a few more problems to work on, Reyna made her way to another table where two freshmen worked on Physics. Andrea, a brilliant, highly motivated, and determined girl, helped Tommy with a projectile motion problem. Unfortunately, Reyna noticed that Tommy was more interested in the physics of Andrea's bra than anything else. She could tell he would probably be asking her to the Fall Ball. Not a bad call for Tommy. Andrea was pretty cute and very curvy for a 14-year-old. But right now, he needed to concentrate on his grades.
      "Tommy, eyes on the book." Reyna gave a stern warning, then went and sat next to John and Troy. "Hey guys, what