Flawless by Lara Chapman Read Free Book Online

me you’ve already done that.”
    â€œI know,” she says with her trademark smugness. “But I really think proving how smart I am is key.”
    â€œAnd how do you propose we do this?” I hope like hell she’s got a killer new idea, because I’m drawing a complete blank. And I sure don’t want to get into the whole imposter-conspiracy thing with her again.
    Kristen pulls a folded scrap of paper out of her pocket and smiles. “Remember this?”
    She tosses the paper to me and I unfold it. Inside is an e-mail address written in an unfamiliar handwriting. But I don’t have to recognize the penmanship to know whose e-mail it is. The address says it all: [email protected].
    â€œWhat are we going to do with Rock’s e-mail address?” I ask, doing my best impersonation of the ever-clueless but well-meaning best friend. I mean, helping her learn more about lit is one thing, but lying … well, that’s an entirely different issue altogether.
    â€œWrite him.” Kristen whispers the idea I’d hoped she’d forgotten. I don’t blame her for whispering; it’s a plan doomed for utter disaster. And she doesn’t even know it will leave me bloody and broken in the wreckage.
    I’m shaking my head before she finishes the sentence. “When I said I’d think about helping you, I thought I’d be teaching you about things Rock’s interested in. You know, actually helping you.”
    â€œWhat’s the big deal? I’ll tell you what I want to say and then you can write it in that way you have. Besides, you didn’t say no. You said you’d think about it.”
    â€œKristen, I just … I just can’t do it,” I say quietly, focusing on Ringo, who’s rolled onto his back for some belly rubs. There are days I’d seriously trade my life for his. Starting with today.
    â€œYou have a way with words. Don’t deny it, Sarah. How many times have you won first place for creative writing in the state competition? Four? Five?”
    Seven , I think to myself. “That’s different,” I mumble.
    â€œHow is it different?” she asks, desperate for me to agree. I can read it in her face. She’s counting on me and I hate to disappoint her. If I’m honest with myself, I like it when Kristen needs me, maybe because she needs me so rarely. It makes me realize my place in our friendship is as real and necessary as hers. Like we might actually benefit each other instead of me doing all the taking.
    â€œFirst of all, it’s deceitful. Second, it’s a little creepy. I mean, I don’t really want to get in the middle of your love life.” Especially if it involves Rock.
    â€œThat’s ridiculous. I’m not asking you to make it all up. Just help me. Come on,” she pleads, taking my hands and squeezing them. “I’m begging you.”
    I chew on my bottom lip, scrambling for some excuse good enough to convince her I can’t do this. But I come up empty. And I’m supposed to have a way with words? How pathetic is it that I’m able to save Kristen from total self-destruction but not myself?
    â€œGround rules,” I say, thoroughly disgusted with myself. I am so weak. I deserve to be miserable.
    â€œAnything,” she agrees.
    â€œI decide when and how often. You can’t expect me to drop everything and do this for you. I’m working to get a scholarship, remember?”
    â€œOf course,” she says, victory lighting her face. “Anything else?”
    â€œYou can’t tell anyone—especially not Rock—that I did this. Ever .”
    â€œPromise,” she says, then reaches over for a suffocating hug. Kristen would normally hurt herself before letting an animal suffer, but she’s so excited she completely ignores Ringo. He tears out of my lap, clawing my legs as he goes, but Kristen’s oblivious to the damage she’s causing