Wishes Read Online Free PDF Page A

“I don’t think you’re going to have any trouble jumping over something that’s four feet wide. And they keep the flames low.”
    “I just don’t want to look like a dweeb,” Bryce said. He looked adoringly at Becca. “Not with Becca flying over like an angel.”
    Verity made a face. Cheswick pantomimed sticking a finger into his mouth and gagging.
    I just looked around, hoping that Peter would show up before I was completely humiliated in front of my friends.
    And he did! “You’re here,” I said, pitifully relieved when he arrived.
    “In the flesh,” Peter said.
    “We’re practicing for the handfasting,” Cheswick said.
    “It’s no big deal,” Peter said.
    My heart sank. “It is to some people,” I muttered.
    “I meant the jumping part. Look.” He made some adjustments to the pile of debris that the others had collected. Then he stepped back a few feet and leaped across effortlessly. “See? Easy.”
    Verity crossed her arms over her chest. “You have to do it with someone, doofus,” she said. “Holding hands. That’s the whole point.”
    “Right, dude. It’s not a broad jump,” Bryce added.
    “Hey, I was just trying to . . . okay, here.” He grabbed my hand. “C’mon.” He took off at a run, dragging me with him.
    We hadn’t even become airborne when his cell phone rang. Peter immediately released his grip on me. I tripped over a tree branch and crashed into the heap of junk while he sailed over it.
    “Thanks a lot,” I said from the middle of the pile, picking leaves out of my hair.
    “Oh, God, I’m sorry, Katy!” Peter bent over to help me, but the others had already pulled me up and were dusting garbage off me. Meanwhile, his phone kept ringing.
    “You might as well answer that,” I said, trying to scrape dirt off my jeans.
    “Thanks,” he said, pressing the talk key. “That is, sorry. I’ll be with you in a minute.”
    “Yeah, I can hardly wait,” I said. I started to walk away.
    Becca caught up with me and put her arm around my shoulder. “Hey, let’s get some ice cream, okay?” she offered gently.
    I could only shake my head.
    “Want to be alone, huh?”
    I nodded.
    Peter trotted up beside me too, but he was still talking on the phone, so I pushed him away and then I ran blindly, my eyes flooded with tears of humiliation and rage. I didn’t even want to look at him.

6.
    Stumbling over the obstacle course of wires, ropes, and garbage bins behind the vendors’ tents, I finally reached the end and turned the corner, emerging onto the main part of the fairgrounds. I spotted Gram and Aunt Agnes at a booth selling glass ornaments. They were talking with Jonathan Carr, who was fixing one of the metal posts in the booth. I didn’t want to talk to them. I was too upset to be good company, and a replay of the morning’s unpleasantness was the last thing I was looking for. I didn’t know if Peter had followed me, but I didn’t want to see him, either. So I slipped into the first tent with an open flap, where a Goth girl was walking out, slouched over like a question mark.
    It was Mabel Bean’s fortune-telling booth, which was a nice surprise, considering I could have picked the fake tattoo tent or the All Things Cammo booth. The place was cool and dark inside, and smelled like cookies. Mrs. Bean was dressed like a gypsy, with a headscarf and large hoop earrings, but she was still the soft, comforting presence she always was.
    “Katy, dear!” she said as if she were simply delighted to see me. Mrs. Bean was always like that. It was what made her so nice to be around. “Please sit down. Would you care for a treat?” She held out one of her famous cookies.
    “Er, thanks,” I said, sitting down uncertainly. I looked over my shoulder in case Peter was behind me, but of course he wasn’t. He’d probably been caught up with his phone call and hadn’t given me another thought.
    “These are great,” I mumbled, my mouth full.
    “You look glum, sweetheart,” she