“Do what?” Roth turned toward the girl who’d just walked up. “Stare at that conceited Morgan.” They were in the cafeteria on Monday. Roth was slouched in a metal chair, a palm-size electronic video game—strictly forbidden on school grounds—in his hands and the black hood of his sweatshirt pulled ...
“I’m not sure, Julie,” her mother said when Julie told her the plans. “I hate to leave you and your friends unchaperoned.” “Mother, please.” Julie sighed dramatically. “My friends know how to act. Most of them are Daddy’s players; they’re not going to get crazy or anything. Daddy would make their...
She climbed the stairs to her bedroom, slowly, catching her breath every few steps. Her muscles were weak from disuse. She’d have to work on regaining strength in her flaccid muscles. She ran her hand along the smooth, dark wood banister. Her eyes took in the colors of her home, so different from...
the soldier asked in English.“Yes,” Amber said. The sound of her own heart pounded in her ears.“But what are you doing in the bush?”“I’m lost. I’m trying to get back to Uganda.”The soldier lowered his rifle. “But you are in Uganda.”“I am?” They had crossed the border and not known it. Tears welle...
If you’re at Marcie’s sending me e-mail, what else are you doing with my best friend? (Yes, you’re still my best friend, Marcie. The only person I really like down here is Jared, but it’s not like you and me. I see him at school. He doesn’t call.) Wish I could be up there with you-all for Thanksg...
Raina St. James asked as soon as Kathleen McKensie had climbed into the car and shut the door. “Sure,” Kathleen said halfheartedly, turning her head so that Raina couldn't see her eyes filling with moisture. “Everything's fine. It's hard coming here, that's all.” She had j...
Twilight was falling, and the wool blankets were damp from the wetness leaching through from underneath their two bodies. She stroked his cheek, checked his pulse—still weak—moistened his lips with water, whispered her love for him. And waited. If no one came soon, she’d have to ride back to the ...
Rosenberg about the talk with her mother. “You sound pleased,” he said, steepling his fingers together and peering at her through them. “I guess I am. I mean, all we usually do is yell at each other. Or, rather, she yells and I tune her out.” “It’s not an uncommon pattern for parents and teenager...
Then everyone spoke at once. “Too much!” “Wow!” “That’s really neat!” Confused, Jordan glanced from face to face. “What do you mean?” she asked. “How can you sit there looking innocent when you know that your boyfriend is moving here?” Laurie burble...
Their friends had just left and they were alone. She felt relaxed, sleepy. He kissed her forehead. “You awake?”“Maybe. Who’s asking?”He laughed deep in his throat. “You could spend the night. My folks are away.”She woke immediately. “My mother isn’t away. She’d be frantic if I didn’t come home.” ...
Sometimes she felt tangled in a thick clinging fog that clogged her memory and sapped her strength. It worried her that the stupor of perpetual drowsiness would push her into oblivion. She wasn’t ready for oblivion yet. Some nights she set her alarm clock and put it under her pillow just so that ...