When Reason Breaks Read Online Free PDF Page B

rolled their eyes at the dramatic welcome.
    â€œOh please,” said Abby. “They’re just jealous because no one is jumping up and down to see them.”
    â€œWe are a little loud,” Sarah admitted and giggled. “Oh, well.”
    Two stops later, Elizabeth Davis waited in line to board the bus. Emily inspected her through the window. She was tall and had an athletic upper body. Her thick, straight hair was pulled tight into a ponytail.
    When Elizabeth climbed on the bus, Emily got a better look at her: uneven bangs, black eye makeup, and light-green eyes. An eyebrow piercing, big black hoop earrings, and a pouty mouth painted deep purple. Emily remembered how different Elizabeth looked when she moved to town. Emily secretly gave Elizabeth props for having the guts to reject the school’s unofficial head-to-toe designer clothes dress code. She was bold, which made Emily nervous, but she was also, in her own way, beautiful.
    Elizabeth caught Emily staring twice. The first time, Elizabeth let it go. The second time, they locked gazes and Elizabeth flipped her off. Abby and Sarah were talking, so they didn’t see it. Emily joined their conversation to avoid Elizabeth’s glare as she passed the group to find a seat in the back.
    When the bus arrived at the front doors of the high school, Sarah said to Emily, “Wait a minute.” She reached into her backpack and retrieved a small tube of pink lip gloss.
    â€œHold still,” Sarah said. Emily parted her lips a little as Sarah applied the gloss.
    â€œThere,” she said when she was done. “Now, you are absolutely perfect. Watch out, boys.”
    â€œYeah, right,” Emily said.
    â€œKeep it. It’s too light for my skin tone. Be sure to reapply throughout the day. It really calls attention to those gorgeous lips. Plus, it tastes like bubble gum.”
    Emily smiled and shook her head as she slid the lip gloss into her pocket.
    They filed off the bus and marched into the packed main hallway. Kevin Wen-Massey leaned against a wall, talking with Tommy Bowles. When the girls entered the building, Kevin said, “There she is.”
    â€œGood luck, man,” said Tommy. “I’ll see you in first period. I’m going to find Elizabeth before class.”
    â€œOf course you are. Give her a kiss for me, okay?”
    â€œShut up.” Tommy punched Kevin lightly on the arm before he walked away.
    Kevin cut a path to the girls. His blond hair was carefully styled to look windswept. He wore an oversize T-shirt and barely-held-up baggy jeans.
    â€œWell, hello, ladies,” he said once he was in front of them.
    â€œHi, Kevin,” Sarah and Abby responded in unison and laughed. Emily didn’t say anything, but she laughed, too.
    â€œCome on, hugs all around,” said Kevin, holding his arms open to Abby. As he hugged her, he said, “You’re looking gorgeous as usual.”
    â€œThanks,” Abby responded. “How was your summer?”
    â€œExcellent. Went on a cruise with my dads and hung out here.” He moved down the line. “Sarah. How was your summer, beautiful?”
    â€œGreat,” she said, tapping his back as they hugged. “Camp. Beach. Lots of shopping.”
    â€œAwesome.” He stepped to the left and stood in front of Emily.
    â€œHey.” Kevin wrapped his arms around her and held her for a moment. Sarah and Abby raised their eyebrows at Emily as she peered over Kevin’s shoulder. This was no quick pat on the back. They would definitely be talking about this later.
    When they separated, Kevin asked, “So, how was your summer, Delgado?”
    â€œIt was okay,” she said with a shrug.
    â€œJust okay?”
    â€œWell, yeah, my friends were gone most of the time,” she said, motioning to Abby and Sarah.
    Kevin grinned mischievously at Emily. Suddenly nervous that he would say something more, Emily announced, “I’m going to