Urban Climber 2 Read Online Free PDF Page B

can’t we talk about this?”
     
    I shake my head, slamming the door of the bathroom. “There’s nothing to talk about! This is my choice, and whatever I choose to do, I hope you’ll support me.”
     
    “Well,” her voice cracks. “I don’t know if I’m gonna be as good a friend as you need me to be then.”

FOUR
     
    Later that night …
     
    Beep. Beep .
     
    The phone alert almost makes me jump out of my skin. Yeah, I guess you could say I’m rather on edge at the moment, more so than I’ve been for some time. Confusion mixed with guilt sure is a funny concoction. I stare at my phone from across the room, willing myself to get out of bed and go read the stupid message.
     
    But I don’t want to. Like, I do … but mainly, I don’t. I guesstimate it’ll take me at least five minutes to pull myself together before I can bear to look at it. And honestly, I don’t know why I’m putting myself through this crap because I don’t actually care who it’s from. Well, I do. But I don’t. Urgh. Breathe, Laura, breathe. The problem is, there are only two possibilities, and it’s that annoying little thought that’s turning my insides into a nitty, knotty knot!
     
    Possibility 1—the guy I wanna run away with.
    Possibility 2—the guy I’m possibly going to marry for no other reason than my own stupidity.
     
    Of course, I try to tell myself that it could be someone else—Mom, Mel, someone I don’t even know—but I’m guessing, the way my insides are making such a big deal out of this, that it’s either my heartthrob or my heartache.
     
    Okay, enough torture, I’m doing it! Like a bandage that’s been stuck on too long, I’m ripping my phone off the dresser and staring at the wound. Good or bad, I can’t take the suspense any longer.
     
    Ash: Ra? Don’t ignore me. You’re better than that.
     
    Me: Am I?
     
    Ash: Just tell me you’re okay.
     
    Me: It’s not that simple.
     
    Ash: I can’t get you out of my head.
     
    Me: Maybe you should see someone.
     
    Ash: What, like a shrink?
     
    Me: Yeah.
     
    Ash: Fuck that.
     
    Me: Leave me alone.
     
    Ash: Nice.
     
    Me: Sorry.
     
    Shit, why did I say “sorry”? I’m not sorry. I’m just saying it how it is. He shouldn’t be offended. I don’t even know why he cares. I shuffle back to my bed and sink down into the mattress.
     
    Ash: Ra?
     
    Minutes pass, and my plan is to ignore him. Of course, it doesn’t work.
     
    Ash: You still there?
     
    Me: Did you hear me let out a giant sigh?
     
    Ash: Yeah, half the leaves on my street just blew away. Thanks. It’s not even fall yet!
     
    Me: Turn it up.
     
    Ash: IT’S NOT EVEN FALL YET!
     
    Oh, ha ha. Now he’s being comical. I crack a smile, but I’m not amused. Well, not really. I don’t know why I’m being so hostile towards the guy. It’s not like it’s his fault that I’m in this position. He doesn’t have a clue what’s going on, and I’m just being a snarky little so and so. For apparently no reason at all. Or at least, that’s what he’ll be thinking. The last time I was with him, I couldn’t stop screaming his name in pleasure. But now … now I’m like a tray full of ice. No wonder guys think women are off their heads half the time. We are. We SO are.
     
    Ash: Ra?
     
    Me: What?
     
    Ash: If you’re not going to talk to me, can you at least tell Fire Boy to leave me alone? He thinks I killed you or something, and has been at me all day. I don’t need this shit.
     
    Me: You don’t need this shit? Thanks a lot.
     
    Ash: You know what I mean.
     
    Me: Why’d you even bother going to class? It’s not like you care.
     
    Ash: You know why.
     
    Me: …
     
    I so shouldn’t have written “dot dot dot.” Why did I do that? Continuing on the conversation when I shouldn’t be having it in the first place is just asking for trouble. He’s bad for me. So bad. I knew it way back when, and I know it now. So does he and half of campus. It’s not like it’s a secret.