Tragedy Girl Read Online Free PDF Page B

your—”
    “Garrett?” Lauren interrupts.
    I shrug. “I don’t know his name.”
    “Of course Garrett,” Melanie says. “Blake only has one brother.”
    She turns toward me. “Lauren just broke up with her boyfriend,” she says.
    “Um, technically, I got dumped,” Lauren clarifies. “His loss.”
    “You have to come with us,” Melanie beseeches her. “You know I’ve been crushing on Jamie for months now—since even before he started lifting weights and got hot. And who knows? You might really click with Garrett.”
    Lauren shakes her head. “I don’t want to be fixed up.”
    “Fine!” Melanie says, presenting the palm of her hand as an oath. “We’ll just go as a group.”
    Lauren deliberates a moment, then says, “Whatever. I’ll go. But only as a group. No pairing up and leaving me stranded with the junior.”
    “Absolutely,” I say, feeling guilty that I seem to have commandeered their plans.
    “Yes, fine, fine,” Melanie says. “Anne, count us in.”
    I nod, then lean in closer. “That creepy Natalie girl practically shot daggers through me in the hallway,” I tell them in a lowered voice. “What’s up with her?”
    “Hmmmm,” Melanie says. “You were with Blake at the time?”
    “Well, our lockers are right next to each other … ”
    “She’s probably been planning her wedding to Blake since she started bringing him brownies all the time in middle school,” Lauren says.
    “He had cancer,” Melanie says matter-of-factly. “Natalie apparently perceived that as a glass-half-full kind of opportunity.”
    “So, they’ve dated?”
    Lauren snorts. “She wishes. I don’t think Blake’s ever dated anybody but Cara—the girl who died. I guess Natalie figured this was her chance. Then along comes Number Eleven … ”
    She and Melanie laugh at my perplexed expression. “Remember?” Lauren prods. “The guys have decided you’re an eleven?”
    I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head.
    Melanie peers into space. “Who knows, Natalie might have even offed that poor girl.” She gives us a silly grin, then turns somber when she sees our reactions. “Alrighty then. Note to self: too soon to joke about dead girl.”
    Lauren swats Melanie’s dark blonde hair playfully. “We are so signing you up for sensitivity training.”
    “Just don’t schedule it for tonight,” Melanie says. “Looks like I’ve got myself a date.”

    I shut the front door and take a deep whiff of pepperoni.
    “Hi, honey,” Aunt Meg calls from the kitchen. “Homemade pizza for dinner!”
    “Yum,” I say, walking into the kitchen. “Aunt Meg, I wish you wouldn’t feel like you had to rush home from work and cook dinner for me. I’m fine fending for myself. And, you know, if you’re not scared of botulism, I could start cooking for you .”
    She laughs, too loud, too hard. “Silly. Uncle Mark and I love cooking for you. And we were thinking maybe a movie after dinner?”
    I hug my arms together. “It sounds great, only … ”
    “Yes?” Aunt Meg prods.
    “I kinda have plans with some friends from school, if that’s okay. There’s a bonfire tonight to kick off the football season.”
    “Oh, honey, that sounds great! I’m so glad you’re making friends. I knew it would happen in no time.” Her eyes turn wistful. “Your mom and dad would be so happy.”
    The moment hangs in the air, then I say, “I dream about them a lot.”
    Aunt Meg intertwines her fingers. “You do?”
    I nod. “I dream that I’m at some random place—a car wash, or a grocery store, wherever—and I glance over and there they are, in my peripheral vision. At first, it doesn’t seem like any big deal … just, ‘Oh, there are Mom and Dad.’ But then I remember—in my dream, I mean—I remember they’re dead, so I get super excited that I’m seeing them. I start rushing toward them, but they hurry away, hiding their faces. The more I call to them, the farther away they get.”
    I gaze into space, my eyes