The Gossip Web Read Online Free PDF Page A

was fantastic.
    I was studying for my Chemistry test with Heidi when Sarah Dunder walked in, slamming the door loudly behind her while she talked on her cell. She usually sat next to Heidi and I, but she rarely talked to us. It didn’t bother me though, because all she ever wanted to talk about was gymnastics, and once she got going she would never shut up. I think she has a three in conduct for this period for talking, and I believe it was the same in every one of her classes. The girl had a serious chitchat addiction.
    “Oh my god, he didn’t,” Sarah said into her phone, laughing softly as she took her seat.
    I looked over at Heidi and we locked eyes. We both knew what was about to happen next. It always did.
    “Please, God, no,” Heidi whispered, flashing me a wide smile.
    After giggling at Heidi’s remark, I glanced back at my Chemistry notes, hoping that God would hear my friend’s prayers and shut Sarah up.
    “Are you kidding me? Oh, tell me he didn’t!” Sarah’s voice grew louder.
    She did this often, especially when I was trying to study. I hadn’t figured out if she was just trying to irritate the hell out of me, or if she was just so disrespectful she didn’t care how loud her voice became. I sighed and cleared my throat, hoping Sarah would look over in my direction and take the hint. Of course she didn’t; she was in her own little world now.
    I swear the class was dead silent, not one person was talking, and all you could hear was the slight tapping of someone’s pencil against their desk. All of a sudden, like I knew she would, Sarah busted into hysterics as she yelled, “He didn’t!”
    “Ms. Dunder!” Mr. Acker boomed, sending her a death glare from behind the book he was reading. “Get off of that phone now, or not only will you have detention this Saturday, but I will confiscate it and turn it over to Principal Waters!”
    Sarah smiled sweetly at him and shut the phone, pocketing it quickly. “My bad,” she mumbled as she bit one of her brown curls.
    Returning my attention back on my notes, I tried to ignore the laughing around me, except this time it was at Sarah’s expense, not mine. Then, the morning announcements flickered on the television, distracting mostly every one in the classroom but me. I rarely paid attention to them, because honestly, it was just a bunch of populars trying to get some face time on the TV. People like the beautiful Lana Mills, and Ken-like Rodney Naples. Those two made the perfect on-air couple, but I heard that they couldn’t stand each other off camera. They rarely said anything important or of interest, but today was different. After Lana said the words “winter formal”, everyone’s eyes were glued to the television, including mine.
    After giving the camera one of her bright, cheery smiles, Lana continued, “You heard me right, West Haven High! In honor of the West Haven Rams victory over East Ridge, Principal Waters and the PTA have agreed to throw us a winter formal!”
              The whole class cheered and I too couldn’t pretend like this wasn’t good news. It was unusual for West Haven High to host dances, besides the typical: Homecoming and Prom. Since I didn’t attend Homecoming this year, (I got stood up by one of Heidi’s drama friends) I was sort of looking forward to this dance. I don’t know why, but I enjoyed dancing and dressing up like a princess. Maybe because, for once, people could see me in a completely different light, instead of the boring old Jade Cannon they laughed at and ignored in the hallways.
    I must’ve been smiling because Heidi started snapping her fingers against my left ear, shattering my eardrum. I grimaced as I whispered, “Cut it out!”
    “Why are you so happy, hmm?” She asked me with a smile.
    Shrugging, I replied, “No reason.”
    I felt an odd urge to glance at that the back of the class, where Trace and his friends sat. My gaze flickered over my shoulder, peeking in Trace’s