Chance Of Rain by Laurel Veil Read Free Book Online

oral. If I need you to write, we’ll use one of these.” She lifted a beanbag lap desk from a large stack in the corner. “We’ll read as a class and also silently in small groups and with partners. When we cover Shakespeare, you can do a little acting if you’d like. Let’s try to get to know someone today, shall we? Find a partner and take turns reading the first poem.”
    I looked at Bri, and she knew exactly what I was thinking. I didn’t want to abandon her, but I
really
wanted to talk to Trent. I knew she would’ve been more than willing to take one for the team and partner up with someone else, but before I had a chance to even blink, Lacey had pulled her beanbag up to Trent’s.
    Bri and I looked at each other. I pretended not to notice, and so did she. Bri opened her book and cleared her throat. “‘Take this kiss upon the brow! And, in parting from you now…’”
    I couldn’t focus. I wished I were seated at an angle where I could read Trent’s facial expressions. Was he enjoying himself? This was twice now that Lacey had interfered.
    Maybe he liked her.
    “Do you remember me from the Road House the other night?” I overheard Lacey ask Trent. I knew what she was thinking:
Of course you recognize me. Look at me—I’m unforgettable
.
    He must have nodded because I didn’t hear his response.
    “‘My days have been a dream,’” Bri went on.
    Lacey had silky blond hair that she wore in a pageboy-style cut, and she dressed very trendy. She had on T-shirt with a wild print and a brightly colored scarf wrapped loosely around her neck. Most of the time, she looked like she’d just finished shooting a cover for
Seventeen
.
    “‘While I weep—while I weep!’” Bri continued.
    It was a strange phenomenon; Lacey wasn’t very friendly, but she was popular. I guess it was like being infamous versus famous.
    I think her dislike for me began in second grade, when Mrs. Royston chose me to play the role of Mrs. Claus instead of her. That same year she liked Chad Walker too, but he liked me. She hadn’t liked me since then.
    “‘Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream?’” concluded Bri. “Wow!”
    “What? What happened?” I asked, trying to peek over my shoulder without being seen.
    “What do you mean ‘What’? Didn’t you hear how well I just read that? I amaze myself.”
    I let out a sigh of relief.
    “I know you weren’t paying attention, Ash. I can’t blame you, but you’d better read.”
    I gave in. When I finished, I looked at the wall clock and saw that class was about to end. I whispered to Bri and told her to be ready to bail—and
fast
.
    Ms. Elliott gave us the OK to leave when then bell rang. Before it even finished sounding, Bri and I were gone.
    “I can’t stand Lacey!” I whispered to Bri as soon as we stepped into the crowded, noisy hallway.
    “I hear ya. I gotta go this way now.” Bri motioned with a nod of her head. “Meet me by the car after school.”
    I walked to Mr. Owen’s room for Spanish, found a table, and quickly sat down. I stared at my phone so I could ignore everyone around me.
    I started to dread that I’d signed up for this class. I didn’t need the foreign-language credit; I’d already taken two years of French. I just felt like I’d be wasting my time if I took home ec. I would have, though, if I could have taken it with Bri. But she was still trying to get through geometry.
    Unfortunately someone sat down next to me, and he was looking right at me.
Rude much?
    “You ran off again.”
    My head jerked up. “Hey, Mr. Novak. I mean, Trent.”
    He grinned. “Is it OK if I sit here?”
    I shrugged. “Whatever.”
    Mr. Owen took care of some paperwork then instructed us turn to the person we were sitting with—
lucky me
—and practice the conversations in chapter one.
    It was awesome. I didn’t have to think of anything clever to say for the next forty-five minutes, and I got to look into Trent’s eyes. Sometimes he’d look up at