The Clearing Read Online Free PDF Page A

dressing. "So, you got a ride to school? That's good. Wait til you ride the bus home today—it takes forever down the back roads."
    "Oh, great." I was suddenly glad Mae had insisted on driving me that morning. As the truck idled in the crowded parking lot, she'd hugged me and then tucked a few wrinkled bil s in my hand for lunch. As Mae pul ed away, I had barely resisted the urge to run after her truck. Instead, I'd sucked it up and walked toward the school steps. This was what I had wanted. So why did I feel so scared?
    "So, have you met anyone else?" Lori asked.
    "Um, just a kid named Henry, who lives near us."
    Jackson shook his head. "Never heard of him."
    "Wel , maybe I'm not the only new one this year," I murmured. "You guys are both seniors. You probably know al the kids in school, right?"
    "Yep, I'm a lifer. Can't you tel ?" asked Jackson.
    "I don't know. I just got here."
    Jackson grinned at my sarcasm. "Everyone in this lunchroom—no, wait, we had a couple newbies last year—so everyone but three people in this lunchroom has known each other since they were potty-trained."
    "Most people are pretty cool," said Lori. "You're going to fit right in."
    "Yeah," I mumbled. I wasn't sure I wanted to fit in.
    "It must be way different than Seattle," Jackson said. "Your old school must have been pretty big, huh?"
    "Yeah." I dragged a few fries through the extra mayo from the sandwich and scanned the room for Henry, wondering if he was having the same experience that I was.
    Lori squished another blob of dressing onto her lunch tray and dunked a celery stick. "So, how come you're not in my classes so far? Don't you have Garner for English?"
    "No, I have Mil s. After lunch."
    "Advanced Placement English—nice," said Jackson. "Me, too. I'l walk you there." He gave me a broad, confident smile.
    I felt my shoulders tense up. I was suddenly aware that Jackson was kind of cute, kind of big, and definitely a guy. He was stil grinning in a trust-me-I'm-in-charge kind of way.
    "Um. That's okay. I can probably find it."
    "It's no trouble," said Jackson, bal ing up his napkin and throwing it on his tray. "I'l accompany you."
    "I said no." My voice came out weird. Harsh.
    Jackson gave me an odd look. "Oh—kay. I'l just see you there."
    "Geez. Sorry, I didn't mean anything. I'm just, you know, independent."
    He shrugged and got up with his lunch tray. "Suit yourself."
    Lori, who'd watched the interchange silently, took a last sip of milk and eyed me with a funny look. "Wel —see you around, I guess," she said, walking off with her tray.
    I released the breath I'd been holding. I needed to chil if I wanted to make any friends in this place. Jackson was just being nice—and he wasn't Matt. I chewed a bite of oatmeal cookie and pictured the cool, calm mist of the clearing. I tried to remember what Mae had told me last night before I went to bed, my stomach a bal of nerves. This too shall pass. Right.
    When the bel for class rang, I realized I was the only student left in the cafeteria. As I dumped the contents of my tray, the lunch ladies gave me a sympathetic look and a wave of their plastic-gloved hands.

    ***
    "How was your first day?" Mae took my backpack from me and slung it over one shoulder.
    I watched the bus rol off down the road toward Lori's stop. She hadn't sat by me on the ride home, and I didn't blame her. When she'd turned up in my gym class that afternoon, I'd tried to be friendly, but maybe the damage was already done. I'd come off mean or crazy or something in the lunchroom. I hoped that first impression would wear off.
    "It was okay," I said, turning back to Mae. I'd promised her I'd always tel the truth, but I didn't want to rehash the horrible day. "It's going to be fine, I guess."
    "It takes a while to make friends," Mae said. "You have to be patient with yourself."
    Katie trotted up the driveway toward us, hope in her eyes and a stick in her mouth. I gave her a pat, but I didn't go for the stick.
    Mae squinted at