All the Broken Pieces by Cindi Madsen Read Free Book Online Page A

then, will you?”
    “I’ll try to fit you in. If you’re lucky.” She’d found that making a joke was the best way to keep people from taking too close a look or asking any more questions.
    Courtney laughed. “You better.”
    Liv hung up and got back to work on her assignment. She might not be the best at many subjects, but math was her thing, and she was determined to get amazing grades this year. It was her only shot at college, and college was her ticket away from Mom and out of Rochester.
    Besides, she actually liked math. Always had. It wasn’t anything that her friends would beam with pride over—in fact, they’d mock her endlessly. But she loved that moment when she saw how to solve the problem she’d thought might be unsolvable only seconds ago.
    “What are you still doing in here?” a deep voice asked, making her jump.
    Mr. Schaeffer stood in the open doorway. He’d decided she was a problem student, and nothing could change his mind. Liv didn’t like him, either. She didn’t trust older men in general. Too many bad run-ins, thanks to Mom.
    It didn’t help that Mr. Schaeffer had also given her a couple of referrals for things she couldn’t help. Like being late because her car wouldn’t start and Mom was too hungover to drive. Or the time she’d sworn in class—okay, that one was probably a little her fault.
    She swallowed, trying to hide the fact that her heart was beating too fast and her hands were shaking. “Mrs. Taylor knows I’m here. She’ll be right back.”
    Mrs. Taylor did let her study in her classroom and was usually there to help out if she needed it. She was the one teacher Liv liked—that was another secret she hid from her friends. But Mrs. Taylor’d had to leave early that day.
    Mr. Schaeffer narrowed his eyes, staring at her for an agonizing eternity, then finally left. As soon as he was gone, she stood and gathered her books. Time was up anyway; Mom would be calling soon, asking where she was. Later, when Mom was asleep or busy and Liv was so tired the numbers would swim together, she’d have to finish her homework.
    All the extra hours of studying would be worth it someday. Because someday, she would do something amazing with her life. She was going to be somebody.
    She just needed to survive the next few years first.
    …
    Monday morning, frantic energy coursing through her veins, Liv entered the school. Today was going to be different.
    All morning she’d thought about her odd dream, where she wasn’t really herself but everything still felt hauntingly familiar. Even though it hadn’t really been her in the dream, it gave her this boost of confidence, as though the skills to fit in—even if it was a fake, hidden part of herself—were buried in her brain somewhere, if she could just dig deep enough.
    She spotted Sabrina, Candace, and Taylor. Usually she kept to the fringe of the group. Even then, she’d only go over if Keira was there. Not today, though. The need to be accepted was in overdrive, telling her to go up and be bold.
    All you have to do is find the right thing to say to Sabrina and you’re in. Everyone else will follow. Don’t think about it as sucking up; think about it as making your life easier.
    Liv waited for the argument from the other voice in her head—which probably didn’t bode well for her mental state—but it never came. It was so nice to not deal with the bickering thoughts, she decided to listen to the one.
    Maybe I can ditch a voice if I embrace one and push the other away , she thought as she strode toward the group. Sabrina was going on and on about some college guy she’d met at a party. She had on a flowy floral shirt, chunky silver jewelry, and tight-fitting distressed jeans. Her hair was sleek and shiny, her makeup impeccable. Looks obviously meant a lot to her.
    “I love your necklace,” Liv said, and for some reason it came out a little ditzy-sounding. “In fact, your whole outfit is awesome.”
    Sabrina looked at her and