Parker's Island by Kimberly Schwartzmiller Read Free Book Online

about me, but I’m fine, REALLY!”
    “So, then there isn’t anyone you ’ r e interested in?” s he asked, looking me in the eyes, searching for what she knew to be the truth.
    “I...no.. .yes .  O h , it doesn’t matter.”
    She sat down on the edge of my bed and said, “What’s his name?”
    I sat down too and put my head in my hands.  “It doesn’t mat ter .  W e’re not dating… and I guess we never will.  School’s almost out and then I won’t ever see him again!”  The tears stre a med silently down my face.
              “Is this the same young man that you’ve been pining away for all this time?”
    I was so confused, and I desperately needed to talk.  I was surprised how easy the words flowed once I started.  I was also surprised how quietly my mother sat there, intent on every word without once interrupting me. 
              “ … s o that’s it.  He turned me down, and now schools almost over and I won’t ever see him again.”

She sat there quietly while I threw myself down on my bed and cried into my pillow .  After a few minutes she said, “Honey, why don’t you ask him out again ?   It’s worth a shot.  Maybe he’s just shy.”
    I sat up and sniffled.  “You want me to ask him out?  I thought you wouldn’t approve of girls asking boys out.”
    “I may be a bit old fashioned, but sometimes a young woman has to take charge and take a risk for something she wants , ” s he smiled softly and handed me another tissue.
    “What if he turns me down again?”  The thought was terrifying.
    “What if he doesn’t?” s he patted my arm, gave me a hug and then slowly walked out of my room, leaving me to think things through on my own .
                 
              Molly picked me up for school the next morning, and for the first time in weeks, Jason wasn’t with her.  “Where’s Jason?”  I asked, while hopping in the car.
    “He took his mom’s car.  I’ll see him at school later , ” s he said, looking incredibly happy.
    “So, are you okay?” s he asked.
    “Yeah, I’m okay.”  I actually smiled for the first time in weeks.
    “You do seem better.  What’s going on?”
    “I talked to my mom last night, really talked to her.  She told me to ask him out , again.  I realized , what do I have to lose?”
    “I TOLD YOU THAT , WEEKS AGO!” s he said, angrily.
    “I know . I guess I just wasn’t ready to hear it then.”
    “So, when are you going to ask him, and what do you want to do with him?” s he smiled.
    “Oh, I guess I hadn’t really thought about that.  I guess a movie’s out!”  I giggled at my own stupid humor.
    “I don’ t know.  M aybe you should take him to see Beyond Eternity .  I t might give him some ideas , ” s he grinned, trying to embarrass me now.
    “I don’t think so!  I guess I’ll just ask him out for coffee.”
              “That might work if it were a business date.  Come on , Delaney .  L et him know you’re interested in him.”
    “Dinner , then?” I asked , wait ing for her approval.
    “ Dinner’s good.  And t hen you can him for dessert!” s he laughed.
    “Why do I talk to you?”
    “Because, were b est b uddies f ore ver!”
    I grinned at her and said, “Yes we are.  I’ll see you at lunch. ”
     
    I walked into first period with a new spring in my step.  Even if he refused my invitation, I was filled with hope right at that moment.  It felt good to have a plan.  I suddenly felt in control of my own life again, something I hadn’t felt in months.
    I took a deep breath and said , “Hi Logan.  How was your weekend?”
    “ It was f ine , ” he replied.
    I was determined to end this uncomfortable silence we’d shared for the past few weeks, so I continued.  “Did you do anything fun?”
    He looked up at me with what I thought to be relief as well that we were finally talking again.  “I spent the weekend