Vicious Deep Read Online Free PDF Page B

kitchen.
    â€œI really hope that’s the last time that happens,” I say, laughing despite myself.
    â€œAt least you got kissed by an Italian guy,” Layla says. “How many guys do you know who have that street cred?”
    â€œWhat about that time you and Angelo—” Maddy starts, but I cut her off.
    â€œWhoa, hey. So anything else I need to know? As in, I don’t have to go to class for the rest of the month?”
    â€œYou really must’ve hit your head on something,” Dad says.
    â€œGreat. Good, I’m glad we’re laughing at my tragedy so soon.” More garlic knots. It’s not like I’ll be kissing anyone later, I think.
    â€œListen, you kids can hang out at the house, stay up all night.” Mom fidgets with her necklace. “Just don’t touch my strawberry ice cream.”
    â€œOh, actually, I have to go home, if that’s okay,” Maddy whispers. For a second I forgot she was there. “Do you care if I bring some friends to your party?” She looks at me with her big blue eyes and sort of reminds me of a lost kitten.
    â€œWhat friends?”
    She scoffs. “I have friends.”
    â€œI didn’t mean it like that.”
    â€œYes, you did. You just don’t know it.”
    â€œHow can I do something without knowing it?”
    She stands up from the table, her chair sliding back and falling with a thud. “You do everything without knowing , don’t you?” She looks at my mom, her lips trembling, and I know she’s going to cry and everyone is going to blame it on me. “I’m sorry,” she says, looking down at her feet because she can’t seem to look at my parents. “Thank you for the pizza.”
    â€œ Maddy ,” Layla and I call after her. But she’s already out the jingling door.
    Dad picks up the chair and sets it straight. “Am I to understand that you two are no longer going out ?” He says going out in quotation marks.
    â€œNo, we’re not going out anymore.”
    My parents trade sly glances.
    â€œWhat?”
    They shrug together, but they don’t answer. They look at Layla, who makes a zipper motion over her lips.
    â€œIf we’d known, we wouldn’t have invited her to the hospital. Poor girl.” Mom folds a napkin into an accordion.
    â€œBy we, your mom means she ,” Dad says in a whisper that’s meant to be heard.
    â€œYeah, well, I was kind of lost at sea.” I sit back and leave the piece of crust I was nibbling on alone.
    Outside, the thunder breaks through the darkening sky. It starts to rain. I really do hope Maddy gets home safely. She only lives a few blocks away. I picture her answering my mom’s call telling her I was alive. Maybe she was wishing I’d stay gone. I slump lower against my seat, feeling a little bit like the pieces of crust on my greasy plate.

No matter what they say on the news and in the papers, I’m not a hero. I didn’t save the person I meant to save. I’m not even sure anyone was out there.
    From the moment that wave crashed over me, I’ve felt different. I smell things differently. I hear differently. I know that there’s something I can’t remember. It’s taking shape in my head, but it’s like looking at a picture that’s out of focus.
    I throw the covers off and go to the living room. My mother has owned our apartment since before she met my dad. It is technically two apartments now with a few walls broken down to make one huge place. Two bathrooms, my room, my parents’ room, Dad’s office, a dining room, and a living room with huge windows looking out to the Coney Island shore. The walls are gray blue with white trim, except for the kitchen, which is yellow.
    I lie across the chocolate leather sofa, and when I can’t find a soft spot, I lie on the giant, furry sheepskin rug. I remember being little when my mother bought this rug. I thought