Rebel Heart by Jane Slate Read Free Book Online Page A

car keys and making a beeline for where her Firebird was parked in a makeshift parking lot. As far as she saw it, the quicker she got away from Kade and his current time passer, the better.
    “Wait!” Mel called after her.
    “I just have to grab my things and tell Dice I’m leaving.”
    Stella nodded and started up the engine. The car shook to life.
    “Be quick!” she called to Mel.
    “You know traffic is going to be a nightmare and I really want to get there in time for their 4 o’clock special.”
    Mel nodded and was back in a flash. As soon as she slammed the passenger side door, Stella gunned down on the gas and veered onto the dirt road that stretched back into actual civilization.
    Falls Creek was a small town, but in comparison to the tiny suburb where Dice’s farm was located, it was practically NYC.
    Mel rolled down her window and lit a smoke with a bright pink lighter.
    “So where are we going?”
    Stella raised an eyebrow.
    “I thought you stopped smoking?”
    Mel shrugged.
    “I did, this one doesn’t count.”
    Stella snickered. She was familiar with that lie. It was one she often told herself.
    “Well?” Mel questioned, taking a drag.
    Stella frowned, then she remembered Mel’s initial question.
    “Ricos,” she answered, making a right hand turn onto a paved road and picking up speed.
    “I haven’t been there in forever.”
    Rico’s was the best Mexican grill Falls Creek had to offer. They had the best fajitas in town and their selection of Margarita flavors couldn’t be beat.
    “Nice.”
    Mel reached out to turn on the radio just as an upbeat pop song started playing. Stella rolled her eyes and tried to change the station but Mel stopped her, pouting.
    “Aw come on Stel!”
    “I know you’re all about classics but can I control the radio?”
    “Please? Just this once.”
    Stella started to object but relented when Mel gave her a doe eyed glare.
    “I hate when you do that you know.”
    Mel smiled.
    “I know.”
    “But it works doesn’t it?”
    Touché
    Mel began to sing along and eventually she got Stella to do the same. Five equally bad tunes later, it occurred to Stella that she had passed the restaurant. She turned around in an abandoned parking lot and gave the driver of a rusty pick-up truck the finger as he cut her off and barreled down the narrow road.
    She slammed down on her horn even though he was long gone.
    “Asshole!”
    “You know it’s only a matter of time before someone doesn’t like that,” Mel spoke up.
    Stella shrugged. Then, she got an idea.
    “I dare you to do it.”
    Mel frowned.
    “What?”
    Stella nodded at the truck, which was now a few good feet down the road.
    “Flip him the bird. Come on! It’ll be liberating! You can’t be such a good girl all the time, Mel. Besides he won’t even see you. Just...pretend its Maddox!”
    Mel hesitated and right when Stella was sure she wouldn’t do it, she stuck up her middle finger and proudly displayed it out her window.
    Stella laughed, cocking her head to look at her friend.
    “See!”
    “Feels good don’t it?”
    Mel didn’t answer but Stella could tell by the look on her face that she was satisfied. She turned up the radio as one of Mel’s favorite Britney songs began to play and pulled up in front of Rico’s, shifting the car into park.
    “That’s why I can’t stand Blessing of the Bikes,” Stella continued as the song came to an end.
    “It’s like...the one weekend when every asshole in or around Falls Creek decides to come out and play.”
    Mel nodded in agreement.
    Both girls climbed out of the car and made their way inside the dimly lit restaurant. The smell of Mexican food and tequila filled Stella’s nostrils. She slid into an empty booth across from Mel and looked over a menu on the table.
    A timid looking waitress surfaced from the back of the restaurant and set a basket of chips and a bowl of salsa down in front of the girls.
    “Good evening,” she said with a smile.
    “What can