Where They Found Her Read Online Free PDF Page B

times, imagining somebody like Rhea swooping in and rescuing her from the shit-show that was her life. But she hadn’t counted on just how good it would feel. Don’t believe her. Don’t believe her. Don’t believe her. But it was too late.
    “College?” Sandy asked, feeling this dumb mix of nerves and delight.
    Rhea winked and grinned as she stood. “Yes, college. They’ve revamped the GED. These days it can be about getting somewhere, not just making up for what you lost.”
    Rhea had barely stepped out the door when the first text from Jenna came through: Where are you? Come home now! I have SUCH a good story to tell you. U won’t fucking believe it.
    Be home in ½ hour , Sandy texted back.
    Hurry. And bring Cheetos! xoxoxoxo
    Fucking Jenna. Worst part was that Sandy felt guilty not being there. And that was sick. Sandy knew that. But its being sick didn’t make it any less true.
    When Rhea returned to the office, she dumped a stack of books and photocopies on the table in front of Sandy. “Okay, I’ve got a great tutor for you.” Rhea handed Sandy a printout. Hannah Carlson , it said beneath an address, phone number, and email. “Hannah is such a sweetheart. Quirky, too, in a way not so many girls around here are. She’s this amazing pianist, and she’s on the math team. She’s also a terrific writer. She even took English classes over at the university last spring as a junior.”
    Which meant she was a senior now. At least she was a year older than Sandy. Being tutored by someone younger would have been way too much.
    “Sounds awesome,” Sandy said flatly.
    “Oh, I’m sorry. That was stupid,” Rhea said. “Who would want Little Ms. Perfect teaching them anything?” She stuck out her tongue and pretended to gag. Then she leaned forward conspiratorially. “I’ll let you in on a secret. Hannah’s mom is a total b-i-t-c-h. With a capital B. So, you know, Hannah’s got her own cross to bear.”
    “Cool.” Sandy nodded, looking down at the girl’s name. But she knew what this Hannah’s mother being a “bitch” meant on the scale of actual problems: fucking nothing.
    “Listen, I know this isn’t easy. But don’t give up before we’ve even gotten started,” Rhea said, reading Sandy’s mind. Her voice was different now, more serious. She put her hands on the pile of coursework. “These are your assignments. When we meet next week, I expect all of them to be finished. And you can do it. I have absolutely no doubt.”
    Sandy tried and failed to lift the heavy stack with a few fingers. “That makes one of us.”
    Rhea put her hand over Sandy’s, squeezing it until she looked up. Rhea’s eyes were glassy, her smile sort of sad but also weirdly hopeful. “I think you and I both know this is it, Sandy. This is your chance.” Rhea made two fists in the air. “You’re going to have to grab onto it with both hands.”
    When they were done, Sandy rushed out the side door of the school, praying she’d make it away before she started to cry. At least it was the middle of the school day, the parking lot dead quiet, the lawns all empty. Even the fancy track that looped around the perfectly green and neatly trimmed football field didn’t have a soul on it. The only sound was Sandy’s breathing when her phone chirped with another text: WHERE R THE CHEETOS!!! I’m DIIIIEEEING HERE. Come home. Judge Judy is ripping into this chick with a hair salon. You should see her roots!
    Sandy slid her phone into her back pocket, then dropped herself against the cool brick of the school building so hard it scratched her back. “Fuck, ouch,” she said out loud. Then she rested her head against her hands, rocking it back and forth. Why did her life feel the most fucked whenever she was trying to make it better?
    “Want one?” someone asked.
    When Sandy looked up, there was a kid about her age with messy blond hair, some freckles across his nose, and perfect teeth. He wasn’t Sandy’s type—too pretty. But