16 Things I Thought Were True by Janet Gurtler Read Free Book Online Page B

travel? Or get a job.” He laughs. “I mean a real one. After high school.”
    â€œI’m thinking of taking child psychology or something. We’ll see.”
    I wonder if he knows about the insurance coverage, if he knows I’ve been thinking about giving my mom my savings. “What about you?” I ask not wanting to dwell on me. “What school do you want to get into?”
    â€œThe University of Washington has a solid med school and seems the most doable. Columbia or Stanford are out of my price range.” He shrugs.
    â€œI’d love to leave Washington,” I say with far too much passion and then scrub the already-clean counter even harder. “Go far away where no one knows me.”
    â€œRun away?” he asks softly.
    I stop wiping and close my eyes, glad I’m not facing him. I have no idea why I said that out loud and wish I could snatch my words back. “You know, don’t you? About the video? You probably saw it?” I wait, gripping the cloth in my hand.
    â€œI heard about it.” He clears his throat. “I never watched it.”
    I breathe out and slowly turn. “Then you’re one of a few people at this park, heck, probably one of the few people in Tadita who hasn’t.”
    He takes his elbows off the counter and stands straight.
    â€œI don’t want to talk about it.” I bite my lip and glance purposely at the clock on the wall. He should be going back to the office now.
    â€œYou didn’t post it. Did you?” His voice is low.
    I bend my head and swallow and pick at imaginary fuzz on my T-shirt. It’s the truth. I didn’t post the video. But that’s not the whole story. And it still haunts me. “It was my best friend.” My voice breaks and I take a big gulp of air. “She did it without telling me.”
    We’re both quiet. I can’t look up. I don’t want him to know the whole truth. I don’t want anyone to know.
    â€œSome friend,” Adam says. “I’m sorry.”
    â€œI don’t need anyone feeling sorry for me,” I say softly and go after another surface with my cloth.
    â€œMaybe you do. Need people, I mean,” he says softly.
    I look him in the eye then. “Every person I know has seen me in my underwear.”
    â€œI’m sure that’s not such a bad thing,” he says gently, as if he’s trying to tease me.
    â€œMorgan?”
    I turn to see Amy standing in the door of the gift shop. She has on a pair of fingerless gloves and a long-sleeve striped shirt under her Tinkerpark T-shirt. I have an urge to run over and hug her for ending this conversation. “Are you two talking about your video?”
    â€œNot anymore,” I say quickly.
    Adam smiles. “Hey, Amy.”
    â€œHi!” She grins. “Are you being nice to me now?”
    â€œOf course he is,” I say. “Adam was telling me how bad he felt about yelling at you.” I have the secret knowledge now that he’s not as mean as he pretends to be.
    He narrows his eyes but doesn’t bust me.
    â€œI was hoping we could be friends.” Amy totally misses the nonverbal conversation between Adam and me. “I feel really bad about eating that popcorn. Maybe we could hang out sometime? If you want? If you’re not still mad?” She glances at me and then back at Adam. “All three of us!” Amy takes a breath. “So did you want to? Hang out, I mean?”
    â€œAdam has a girlfriend, Amy,” I say to spare her feelings.
    I glance at Adam, and his cheeks are red.
    â€œHe does? I mean, you do?” She tilts her head and studies him. “I didn’t mean it like a date. I’m over that. I never thought tiny women and tall men belonged together. It looks awkward. And I hate heels.” She turns to me. “Where did you take off to yesterday? You were in such a hurry and then both of you disappeared. I was worried, but no