Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley Read Free Book Online Page B

collected my books. “I’m going to my room to finish my homework.”
    Every year, after the first day of school, my parents and I would sit around and make predictions: Which class would be the hardest? Which teacher would become my favorite? It felt strange that with Jolie and Trent we discussed none of this, only boys.
    I looked out my bedroom window. A red light flickered on the dark water. I looked up and saw an airplane flying. Maybe it was descending toward Newark Airport or maybe it was an optical illusion from the waves, but either way, to me the plane looked like it was going down. I turned away from that dreadful river, the haunting image making my heart thump. I collapsed on my bed and started talking.
    Hi, Mom and Dad. It’s me, Emily, I whispered. I’m sure you know that, butI just wanted to clarify in case you’re, like, getting vibes from elsewhere. Anyway, I miss you guys. I miss you guys so much. You don’t even know what it’s like. It’s like a whole different life now. I know I’ll make new friends, but everyone seems so different here. I miss my old school. I miss our house. I miss real dinners with metal utensils. Mom, I really wish I understood what your apology meant. What were you sorry about? You were the perfect mother. You never did a single thing wrong. The only thing I hate you for is being gone. At this my voice choked up, and I couldn’t keep my whisper rant going.
    But I wanted to know they heard me. “Mom, Dad, move something!” I demanded. I searched my room for any evidence of their presence. I pointed to a picture frame. “If you can hear me, move this frame! Come on, you’ve seen Ghost !” But the frame remained immobile.
    I flopped my head back down on the bed, the soft fibers of the new cream-colored comforter (Jolie had gotten rid of the pink one already) caressing my cheek.
    I felt the familiar tingly sensation I’d felt all summer. Like my body was full of pins and needles, and pretty soon I knew it would be impossible to move my body at all. I’d be paralyzed, like I’d been for months, unable to get up from the couch for hours, even days.
    I rolled over quickly and picked up my cell and looked at all the missed calls from Georgia. I decided not to call her. It was too late anyway.
    I thought about my day. Meeting Owen was the first time in three months that I didn’t think about the accident or the m ystery apology. But then Trent told me that Owen was probably just insincere and going to break my heart. And Jolie didn’t disagree.
    And maybe they were right.
    Then again, what heart did I have left to be broken?

chapter five
    EVERYTHING BECOMES MORE CHAOTIC, I jotted into my notebook before glancing back up at the blackboard.
    â€œIt’s the second law of thermodynamics,” Mrs. Klein explained. “The universe becomes more disorderly. This law doesn’t come from complicated theory and equations; it comes from human experience. An ice cube melts in a warm room. Air in tires will blow out if the tire is punctured. Energy disperses from being localized to becoming more widely spread out. This is a powerful aid to help us understand why the world works as it does.”
    I sat, mesmerized by this concept. Maybe my life in Pennsylvania was too contained. Maybe my family was “too perfect” and this crazy law of thermodynamics forced an explosion into my natural course of events, propelling me into this world of chaos and uncertainty.
    â€œIs that okay?”
    I whipped around. “Huh?”
    Anthony was staring at me. “Do you want to be my lab p artner?” he repeated.
    â€œOh, sure.” I followed him to the side lab bench. Mrs. Klein had covered the board with chemistry equations and calculations while I was daydreaming.
    â€œYou do realize that you’ll be shackled to me for the rest of the semester.” He ran his fingers through his dark curly hair. He