Breaking Dawn by Donna Shelton Read Free Book Online Page B

parka. I just can’t finish the day. I dodge the school staff and head outside and off school grounds to take the city bus that will get me within walking distance of Perry’s house.
    At the end of the line, I step off the city bus into the fresh snow, knowing what a fretful trek this is going to be. The once-shovelled pavements are now covered in snow, making the walk difficult, especially once my socks start getting wet from the melting snow falling into my shoes. I should have worn my boots. At least dry socks would have made the walk a little more bearable.
    By the time I reach Perry’s house, his mom is pulling out of the driveway, probably going to the cafe where she works as awaitress. I slow my pace. I don’t want her to see me. As she drives off in the opposite direction, I go on up to the house.
    I knock on the door, hard enough to hurt my knuckles through my gloves. I wait and watch the drawn blinds for any movement. Perry always looks out of the window to see who’s knocking before he answers the door. When there is no answer, I knock again, even harder.
    ‘Perry!’ I call out to him, hopefully loud enough for him to hear me. ‘Come on Perry, we need to talk.’
    For a moment I think that maybe he isn’t home, but if he isn’t in school, then where else will he be on a crappy day like this? He has to be in there.
    ‘Please let me in. I’m sorry. None of this should have happened. We need to talk.’
    I stand around for a good 20 minutes knocking and talking to the door. There is no answer. Maybe he went to school lateand I just didn’t see him. It is possible. I guess I’ll just have to head back to school and find out.
    I trudge back to the bus stop. My previous footprints are already filling with new snow. I make it to the corner where the bus will stop to pick me up, and clear a spot on the bench to wait. This is just a lousy day.
    I make it back to school in time for the last class of the day. Walking through the school in wet socks is torture. I stop by my locker to find a book and head off to maths. Brian is already sitting next to Gary at the far side of the room and as always I get stuck next to Carla. I sit down and open my book, trying to look busy so that she will leave me alone.
    ‘Is it true?’
    I look up and Carla is leaning over towards me. Her eyes are all wide and curious and she is fighting back a grin.
    ‘Is what true?’
    ‘That Perry’s gay?’
    I want to slap her around the head with my heavy maths book, but instead I just sigh. ‘What have you heard?’
    ‘The rumour is that Perry has a secret crush on Brian and half the soccer team.’ Carla is enjoying this. ‘Is it true that the only reason Perry is taking gym is to check out all the guys in the shower? I hear Perry is always the last one out of the shower.’
    I drop my head into my hands. This is a school with over 400 students and nasty rumours get around fast. Especially once they’ve been embellished to make them even more hurtful.
    ‘Carla,’ I look her dead in the eye. ‘Are you really going to believe everything you hear?’
    She pulls her head back and drops her grin, appearing somewhat disappointed.
    ‘But everyone’s talking about it.’ She looks more confused than usual. ‘What about Perry hiding in the toilet cubicle with a picture of Brian, doing… you know?’
    ‘No, Carla, I don’t know.’ What an idiot. ‘Just who happens to be your source of information anyway?’
    ‘Gary told Terri and she told the cheerleaders. I just happened to be in the locker room when she was telling them.’
    I don’t think I have ever been so disgusted with people. I have half a mind to walk out of class right now, but my socks are still wet and I would rather ride home on a warm bus rather than walk home in the cold.
    During class I try to concentrate on my maths, thinking it will make the hour pass faster. I so want to get out of here and away from these people. I can’t concentrate much, and when the hour