Because I'm Disposable by Rosie Somers Read Free Book Online Page B

school,” he said to Mona. Then to me, “See ya ‘round, Callie.”
    Somehow, I knew he meant it.
    * * * * *
    Link was nowhere to be seen when I boarded the bus that afternoon. Maybe he’d caught a ride with someone. I told myself I preferred that, so I wouldn’t have to face the same discomfort I’d felt that morning. I wasn’t about to admit that I actually wanted to see him.
    When the bus was half-full—about as full as it ever got in the afternoons—the driver stepped on and took his seat. He started the engine and reached for his clipboard to scribble on whatever sheet it was that he scribbled on every day. I gave up on waiting for Link, stuck my ear buds in my ears, and turned to stare out the window once the music started. Halfway through the first song, a shadow fell across me. I knew before I looked up that it was Link.
    I pulled one ear bud free and looked up at him.
    “Mind if I sit here?”
    God, he was cute.
    I shook my head and slid my backpack off the seat to make room. The bus driver must have been waiting on Link, because the moment he sat, the bus lurched into motion and pulled away from the curb.
    Link settled his backpack in his lap and rested his hands on top. “So, I saw you talking to Mona Fleming at lunch.”
    He’d been watching me? “Yeah?”
    “I, well …” He trailed off, fidgeting with the zipper pull on his bag while he collected his thoughts. “She goes through a lot of friends. That’s all.”
    He was worried about my feelings?
    “At least she shows up when she says we’re going to hang out.” I clamped my mouth shut the second the words were out. I hadn’t meant to say that. I certainly hadn’t meant to use such an antagonistic tone. I hadn’t wanted Link to know how much it’d hurt me when he didn’t show. I turned back to the window.
    “Callie, I’m sorry. I should have called, but I was embarrassed.” He did sound genuinely sorry.
    I didn’t take my eyes off the passing scenery, but asked, “Embarrassed about what?”
    He cleared his throat before answering. “I got grounded.”
    “Grounded?” Parents actually did that?
    He looked shamefully down at his shoes. “I stayed out past my curfew Friday night.”
    “Curfew?” Apparently, normal parents did a lot of things mine didn’t. Of course, I’d probably never had a curfew because I never went out.
    “Yeah, I’m supposed to be in by eleven on the weekends, but I didn’t get home until almost midnight.” He shrugged. “So, my parents grounded me.” He lifted his gaze to look me directly in the eye. “Please don’t be mad at me, Callista.”
    He looked and sounded sincere. I nodded, and he breathed a soft sigh of relief.
    “I’m not grounded anymore. I was thinking maybe I could bring a movie over tonight. You know, if you still want to hang.”
    Want it? No. I craved it.

 
    Chapter Eight
    Link was so close on the couch his body heat radiated into my skin. The movie had been playing for almost half an hour, and I had no idea what was going on. I was stiff as a board with my hands in my lap, and had been for the entire time. Try as I might, I couldn’t concentrate on anything except Link. Everything about him was distracting, even the way he smelled—like laundry detergent and evergreen—probably his shampoo or something. I was so acutely aware of him, I almost jumped out of my skin when he suddenly raised his arm up and rested it along the back of the couch.
    He was probably just getting comfortable, but if I relaxed back, he’d pretty much have his arm around me. Inch by nerve-racking inch, I lowered my body toward the cushion behind me. A million years later, I was resting awkwardly against the cushion, and Link’s arm was so close it tickled the hair at the crown of my head.
    Link took a deep breath and when he released it, shifted toward me. His arm dropped, and I leaned forward enough to let it fall into place on my shoulders. Was he planning this? This was what the boys always tried