Read Online The Ordinary Life of Emily P. Bates by Anna Cackler - Free Book Online Page B

Tuesday.
                  “That’s not your business,” I said, my heart thumping.
                  “Since when?”
                  “Since forever.”
                  He smirked. “Just because there was never anything for me to butt into doesn’t mean it’s not my business to do so whenever I please.”
                  “Shut up.”
    Ms. Walsh was at the marker board, copying out the quote for the day. I fished around for a pencil so I could copy it down, but couldn’t find one.
                  “Not until you answer my question. Are you thinking about dating him?”
                  “Maybe. What do you care? Loan me a pen.”
                  He tossed his pen across the table toward me and produced a new one for himself. “Just curious. Shannon couldn’t shut up about the whole mess last night and I just wanted the inside scoop.”
                  I stuck the end of his pen in my mouth absently and looked up. “What was she saying?”
                  I never got my answer. Ms. Walsh cleared her throat and began class before Finn could even open his mouth. “Okay class. I want to begin by reminding you that your essays are due on Thursday. Don’t forget. Today we’re going to look at the similarities between T. S. Elliot and Langston Hughes. Then next week we’re going to move on to the short story. No more poetry!” This announcement was received with shouts of relief.
     
                  After class, Finn and I trudged out toward the parking lot. “Emily Bates! You wait up for me!” We both turned to see Shannon sprinting towards us, her flaming hair streaming out behind her.
                  “What.”
                  “I am going home with you today,” she said.
                  “Why?”
                  “Because you have a date tonight, and you are going to be properly prepared for it. That’s why.”
                  Finn laughed, obviously mocking me, but I scowled. “Oh come on, Shannon! Don’t you have better things to do than meddle in other people’s love lives? Why haven’t you had a date yet this semester? This must be some kind of record.”
                  “Because as of right now, I am determined to get my friends a little action.”
                  “No. You can mess with Finn all you like, but you’re not getting your claws into me.”
                  “But-”
                  “But nothing! It isn’t really even a date! We’re going to watch a movie in his living room with his parents probably in the same room . You need to lighten up.”
                  “Come on, Shannon,” Finn said, taking his sister by the arm when he saw that she wasn’t ready to give up. “Just let sleeping dogs lie, all right?”
                  She let him drag her off in the direction of their house. “You call me after you get home!” she called.
                  “Get a life!”
     
    Ethan called over at my place around seven, just as Aaron and I were finishing up the dishes . “You ready?” he asked.
    “Yeah, just give me a few minutes to finish up a couple of things.”
    “Cool. You remember how to get to my house? Or do I need to come pick you up?”
    “No, no. I remember. I’ll be over in a few.”
    “Okay.”
    I hung up the phone with a shaking hand.
    “Who was that?” Mom asked, leaning against the counter.
    “Nobody.”
    “It’s hardly ‘nobody’ if you’re going to ‘be over in a few’.”
    “Oooh! Emily’s got a date!” Aaron taunted. “Finally! I thought you were going to be thirty before someone finally took pity on you.”
    “Shut up!”
    “Yes, do shut up, son,” Mom said. “Just for that you can finish the kitchen alone.”
    “Fine. Em’s already done all the work