Sophie & Carter Read Online Free PDF Page B

I have this label slapped on my back that reads “Evan’s Ex-Girlfiend” and it’s extremely inconvenient.
    Whatever.
    I hate Whitney Morris and I wish Evan Walters would go to a different school.
    I close my eyes and try to push Whitney and Evan away from my thoughts.
    I’m graduating in two weeks. After that, nothing will matter.
    Except me.
    And the Littles.
    And Carter.

CARTER
     
     
    In my last class of the day, TJ is trying to convince me go to some kegger. I don’t drink, but TJ doesn’t know that. He doesn’t know anything really.
    “I think that kid Evan is bringing the beer. You know him, right? I think he was messing around with your neighbor for a while.”
    Well, TJ knows that.
    I hate that TJ knows that.
    I hate Evan Walters.
    And I hate that I hate these things. It means I care—which I do. But I wish I didn’t care that much. It’s unhealthy.
    When I first heard Sophie was with Evan, I didn’t sleep for three nights. Three freaking nights. That’s unhealthy.
    But I couldn’t help myself. The idea of Sophie and Evan together pricked at my mind until I was a crazed insomniac.
    Sophie’s not just any girl.
    So she shouldn’t be with just any guy.
    She should be…I dunno…just not dating Evan Walters.
    “—so hot. Have you ever seen her naked, man? Like from your window?”
    I realize TJ’s talking to me again and I’m annoyed. “Who?”
    TJ sneers at me, “Sophie Hartman, dude. Isn’t she a total hottie?”
    I blink a few times. “Yeah, Sophie’s gorgeous. No, I’ve never seen her naked.” But now I’m thinking about it.
    Stupid TJ.
    “I hear her mom’s kinda easy. Maybe the girl is too.” TJ’s raising his eyebrows like a pig.
    When Sophie and I were Freshmen, her mom would only disappear for a few days at a time. I know because I’d watch their house closely, waiting for her mom to come home so I could relax.
    Although, even when she was home I never relaxed.
    The first time her mom had been gone for a whole week, I remember taking the trash out one night and seeing Sophie at her kitchen table, crying.
    I don’t know why I did it, but I walked over to her front door and let myself in. I knew if I knocked she would have just ignored me.
    I walked into the kitchen to find her looking at me, not surprised to see me. I sat down at the table next to her.
    “It’ll be okay, Sophie.” I didn’t have anything better to say.
    After a while I put my arm around her and squeezed her shoulder. She tucked her wet face into my arm and said, “Thank you.”
    That was the first time, in a long time, I felt important.
    “Sophie’s not like that.” I say, absently.
    “How would you know?” TJ looks at me closely.
    I forget, momentarily, that Sophie and I aren’t supposed to know one another at school. “I don’t. I’m just guessing.” I shrug and stretch my neck, like Sophie’s not the best part of my every day.
    “That’s not what Evan said.”
    TJ’s an infant.
    My blood is boiling and I’m trying to reason with myself. I’m not her boyfriend or anything. I’m not anyone who has any right to feel possessive about Sophie.
    But I do.
    I can’t stop myself. I don’t want to stop.
    She’s tough and incredible and beautiful…and she’s a better person than anyone I know.
    Screw Evan Walters.
    “Evan sucks.” I shouldn’t have said that, but I don’t feel bad. I stretch my neck again as TJ responds.
    “Whoa, man. You got a thing for this girl or what?” TJ’s confused. I don’t care.
    The bell rings, freeing me from answering his question. I jet out of school and start heading home.
    Sophie’s already in front of me, looking pretty and gentle. She doesn’t drop any notes today and for some reason I think she’s mad at me.

SOPHIE
     
     
    I spent all afternoon trying to shake off my jealousy. Turns out you can’t shake jealousy off. You’ve got to pet it and lie to it and soothe it until it settles comfortably in the back of your mind.
    And then wait until