Dark Blue: Color Me Lonely with Bonus Content by Melody Carlson Read Free Book Online

do.”
    “That’s not what I meant, Kara. I mean, how is it affecting your friendship with Jordan? Is it hard on you watching your best friend do something you’re not involved in?”
    It’s times like this when I wish my mom didn’t read Oprah’s magazine from cover to cover. It’s like she keeps trying to play junior psychiatrist with Bree and me. I wish she’d just give it up, or else just get real and
talk
about things instead of trying to find solutions for everything.
    “Jordan has done lots of things that I’m not involved in,” I remind my mom. “Like she’s done debate team and gymnastics . . . ” I try to think of something else but come up empty.
    “So, everything’s okay with you two girls then?” My mom is frowning like she’s still pretty skeptical.
    “Everything’s fine.”
    Now she smiles. “Well, you know you can talk to me, Kara. If you need to.”
    I nod. “Thanks, Mom. I know I can.” And it’s weird, but I almost wish I hadn’t blown her off just then. Maybe I
can
talk to her. But now it’s too late.
    “Have fun.”
    So I head out the door with those two words ringing in my brain.
Have fun. Have fun. Have fun.
Yeah, sure!
    By the time I reach the bus stop I’m thinking maybe this is a stupid idea. Maybe I’m just setting myself up for another big disappointment. But then, I really do need some conditioner.
    By the time the bus pulls over at the mall, I am feeling much more positive about my day. I’m thinking I’ll probably run into Jordan for sure, and we’ll get some lunch together. Maybe sushi, since that’s been Jordan’s favorite lately. And we’ll laugh and talk, and everything will be just like old times.
    It’s a little past noon when I go to the shop that carries my conditioner. I want to take care of my little “errand” first so that it will be obvious by my shopping bag that I had an actual reason to come to the mall. I mean I don’t want it to look like I’m just hanging out here, hoping I’ll run into Jordan. How pathetic is that? No, I came for honest-to-goodness shopping purposes.
    “Can I help you?”
    The voice is familiar, and I turn around and am shocked to see Ashley Crow standing behind the counter.
    “You work here?”
    She shrugs. “Yeah. My mom bought this shop last month and she’s been making me work here on Saturdays.”
    “Well, at least it should save you some money on hair products and stuff.”
    “Yeah. It is pretty cool to be able to just grab what you want when you need it.”
    I tell her what I came for and then she asks me if I’ve tried this new conditioner.
    “I think it would be great for your hair, Kara.”
    “Really? I kind of liked the other one.”
    “Yeah. It’s a really good conditioner too, but did you know that you’re supposed to alternate brands so that you don’t get buildup?”
    I study her for a moment, wondering if this is some kind of a setup. Like, would I use this stuff and end up with hair that hangs like pond slime?
    “Look, Kara, trust me, this stuff is good.” She opens the bottle and holds it out. “Smell it.”
    “Hmmm, that is nice.”
    “It’s what I use myself.”
    I look at her hair, which is a nice dark shade of auburn and similar to mine in texture, and I decide to trust her.
    “Thanks, Ashley,” I say as she gives me my change.
    Then she leans forward and speaks to me in what seems a fairly confidential tone. “I know we can seem like a pretty tough crowd sometimes, Kara. But once you get used to us, we’re not so bad. You just have to hang in there is all.”
    I feel encouraged as I leave the shop. On one hand I can hardly believe that Ashley Crow has been friendly to me, but at the same time I’m worried that there might be a trick too. Like maybe there really is something wrong with that conditioner. But I tell myself to quit being so paranoid. And, with my purple plastic bag in hand, I proceed down the mall, stopping at Jordan’s favorite shops and glancing all around