The Blind Date Read Online Free PDF

self-destruction. Well, that was probably too extreme. But Devon didn’t seem to take life very seriously. Once when Abby had asked her what her plans for college were, Devon had rolled her eyes and said, “Who needs college to become a star?” Abby had asked what kind of a star and Devon had just laughed. As far as Abby could tell, Devon wasn’t kidding because the girl did not take herstudies seriously. Sometimes it seemed that Devon didn’t take anything seriously.
    If Abby wasn’t involved in the DG—or best friends with Bryn—she probably would’ve shied away from someone like Devon from the start. As it was, she barely tolerated her. And now she had to find this girl a date.
    â€œWhat’s troubling you, honey?” Abby’s mom peered curiously at her as they loaded the dishwasher together.
    â€œHuh?” Abby feigned a blank look as she rinsed a plate.
    â€œYou’re worried about something. I can tell.”
    Abby shrugged. “It’s nothing, Mom. Just something to do with my friends.”
    â€œUh-huh?” Mom continued watching her. “What kind of something?”
    â€œNo big deal, Mom. Really.”
    â€œAbby, I can tell you’re worried. And you know what I’ve told you before. When you’re worried about something, I feel worried too. Tell me what’s up, okay?”
    Abby thought hard. She knew that the DG was meant to be a secret club. But that was so that the other kids at school didn’t know about it. No one had ever said they were to keep it secret from parents. Still, Abby really didn’t want to confide to her mom about it.
    Mom slipped an arm around Abby’s shoulders. “Okay, I can’t force you to talk.” She chuckled. “Not like your dad can anyway.”
    Now Abby felt worried. What if her mom told Dad that Abby was acting strangely tonight? That could lead to real problems. Dad was at a deacons’ meeting, but Abby knew that her parents talked about everything. She could imagine her mom expressing her concerns to him later tonight.
    â€œMom,” Abby began slowly. “I’ll tell you what’s bugging me if you promise not to tell Dad.”
    Mom’s brow creased. “You want me to keep something from your father?”
    â€œIt’s not like it’s a big deal,” Abby explained. “But you know how Dad can be—he can turn something really tiny into a great big deal.”
    Mom chuckled. “Well, that’s true sometimes—especially when it comes to his baby girl. So how about you tell me what’s up, and I’ll handle it as best as I can with your father.”
    Abby considered this. Really, what choice did she have? To say nothing guaranteed Dad would hear about it—and so she decided to tell her mom the sweetened, condensed version. Without mentioning the DG, she quickly explained about her friends’ new plan to set each other up for blind dates for the upcoming dance.
    â€œThe masquerade ball?” Mom asked with interest.
    â€œYeah. We thought it would be fun to have blind dates.”
    â€œWhat a fabulous idea.” Mom’s eyes lit up. “What are you going to dress up as, Abby? Do you need any help?”
    Abby told her about her plan to be Katniss from The Hunger Games .
    â€œInteresting . . . well, that could be elegant . . .” Mom was getting that look now, like she was imagining Abby dressed to the nines. “Katniss had some gorgeous gowns in the movie. Remember the one with the flames and—”
    â€œBut I want to dress like Katniss when she was hunting. I already have a bow and a quiver—it’s still in the garage, right?” Abby remembered how she’d been into archery after reading her first book back in middle school.
    â€œAs far as I know.”
    â€œAnd I’ll wear my hair in a side braid.” Abby reached up to touch her shoulder-length hair.