Perfect Chemistry 1 by Simone Elkeles Read Free Book Online

scrambled eggs, and toast to the table. She mumbles
    complaints about not being appreciated, but I figure she wants me to
    listen and not say anything. Shelley is still busy looking at her
    magazines, oblivious to the tension between my parents.
    "I'm going to China on Friday for two weeks," my dad announces as
    he comes back to the kitchen in sweatpants and a T-shirt. He plops
    himself down at his usual spot at the head of the table and spoons eggs
    onto his plate. "Our supplier there is shipping defective material and
    I've got to find out what the deal is."
    "What about the DeMaio wedding? It's this weekend and we
    already RSVP'd."
    My dad drops his fork and looks at my mom. "Yeah, I'm sure the
    DeMaios' kid's wedding is more important than keeping my business
    afloat."
    "Bill, I didn't insinuate your business is less important," she says,
    dropping her own fork on her plate. It's a wonder our plates don't have
    permanent chips in them. "It's just rude to cancel these things at the
    last minute."
    "You can go by yourself."
    "And have rumors start because you're not accompanying me? No
    thank you."
    This is typical Ellis dinner conversation. My dad saying how hard
    work is, my mom trying to keep up the facade that we're a happy-go-
    lucky family, and me and Shelley quiet on the sidelines.
    "How was school?" my mom finally asks me.
    "Okay," I say, omitting the fact that I got stuck with Alex as a
    partner. "I got a really tough teacher for chemistry."
    "You probably shouldn't have taken chemistry," my dad chimes in.
    "If you don't get an A, your GPA'll go down. Northwestern is a tough
    school to get into, and they won't give you a break just because it's my
    alma mater."
    "I got it, Dad," I say, totally depressed now. If Alex isn't serious
    about our project, how am I going to get an A on it?
    "Shelley had a new caretaker start today," my mom informs him.
    "Remember?"
    He shrugs because the last time a caretaker quit, he insisted
    Shelley should live in some facility instead of at home. I never
    remember screaming so much as I did then, because I'm never letting
    them send Shelley to a place where they'll neglect my sister and not
    understand her. I need to keep an eye on her. That's why it's so
    important for me to get into Northwestern. If I'm close to home, then
    I can live here and make sure my parents don't send her away.
    At nine Megan calls to complain about Darlene. She thinks Dar-lene
    changed over the summer and now has a big ego because she's dating a
    college guy. At nine thirty Darlene calls to say she suspects Megan is
    jealous because she's dating a guy in college. At nine forty-five Sierra
    calls to tell me she talked to both Megan and Darlene tonight and she
    doesn't want to get in the middle of it. I agree, although I think we
    already are.
    It's ten forty-five before I finally finish the respect paper for
    Mrs. Peterson and help my mom put Shelley to bed. I'm so exhausted
    my head feels as if it's about to fall off.
    Sliding into bed after I've changed into my pj's, I dial Colin's
    number.
    "Hey, babe," he says. "What're you up to?"
    "Not much. I'm in bed. Did you have fun at Doug's?"
    "Not as much fun as I would've had if you were there."
    "When did you get back?"
    "About an hour ago. I'm so glad you called."
    I pull my big pink comforter up to my chin and sink my head into my
    fluffy down pillow. "Oh, really?" I say, fishing for a compliment and
    speaking with my flirty voice. "Why?"
    He hasn't told me he loves me in a long time. I know he's not the
    most affectionate person in the world. My dad isn't, either. I need to
    hear it from Colin. I want to hear he loves me. I want to hear he missed
    me. I want to hear him say I'm the girl of his dreams.
    Colin clears his throat. "We've never had phone sex."
    Okay, those so aren't the words I expected. I shouldn't be
    disappointed or surprised. He's a teenage guy and I know guys are
    focused on sex and fooling around. This afternoon I pushed away the
    feeling in