Rising Star by Karen Webb Read Free Book Online

disappeared
and she heard his old truck start up in the driveway. The
embarrassment she’d suffered at the restaurant had caused her to
forget about her dad telling her he had another gift for her. Hmm,
I wonder where he’s off to, she thought as she heard the old truck
rattle down the drive, this is not his night to play cards with his
cronies, I don’t think.
    Selena was listening to music with Beth when
he returned a few minutes later.
    “ Okay, Selena. Your
birthday gift is outside,” her father said when he entered the
house.
    Selena stared at him, a surprised look on
her face, until she remembered what he’d said at the restaurant.
Although she had enjoyed her birthday dinner with the three people
she loved most in the world, she had been incredibly relieved when
the evening ended and she could relax. “What could you possibly get
me that has to be outside? It’s not another horse, is it? Selena
looked at Beth and saw excitement almost bubbling over on her face.
She followed her dad outside and stopped in amazement. There was a
bright, shiny red car parked in the drive.
    “ Are you kidding me?” Her
dad was smiling happily when she looked at him. She ran and threw
herself into his arms and hugged him tight. “You’re the best dad
ever.”
    “ Enjoy it, Selena. Just
promise me you’ll be safe, okay?”
    “ I will, dad. I
promise.”
    Selena and Beth jumped in the car, playing
with all the knobs and gadgets. The car was several years old, but
in really good condition. It must have cost a fortune, Selena
thought as she walked around the car, running her hand down the
fender. She knew her dad couldn’t afford this. Had he been saving
up for it? Or did he owe money on it? I’ll get a summer job, she
thought as she stared at it. No way I’m going to let him take on
another bill. She knew her parent’s barely made enough to cover
expenses now. Her dad made a decent living as a mechanic, but she
knew her mother’s receptionist job didn’t pay very well. She had
the check in the bank from the movie, but she knew her mother
wouldn’t let her touch it. “It’s a good start for college,” her mom
had told her.
    “ Let’s take it for a
drive,” Beth said, interrupting her thoughts as she climbed into
the passenger side. Selena shrugged off her worries as Beth’s
excitement washed over her. Beth found a rock station on the radio
and turned it up to an ear-shattering decibel. Selena felt the
steering wheel vibrate to the beat as she drove. Good thing we’re
out in the country, she thought. Wouldn’t want to get pulled over
for disturbing the peace.
    “ You’re sooo lucky,
Selena,” Beth yelled over the music. “My parents only got me a new
saddle when I turned eighteen.”
    “ I know, I was there,
remember? But you know they did all they could afford to, right?
I’m not sure how my dad could even afford this car.” Selena turned
the radio down as she spoke.
    “ I know. Well, you can at
least give me a ride to school tomorrow, right?”
    “ Of course.” Selena
cranked the knob on the radio and blasted the music again as she
flew down the dark, shadowy back roads. Beth’s excitement was
catching, and Selena sang along with the song as she drove. She
felt free as they flew along, the car gave her a sense of freedom
that she’d never known. Just think, no more asking for permission
to use the pickup, she thought. Matt crossed her mind as she drove,
his name wandering across her mind even as she sang along with the
radio. She stopped singing as she imagined him here with them, his
blue eyes shining with mischief as he sang along with the song too.
Selena glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Matt’s face, just as
she had imagined it. He was smiling happily from the back seat,
blue eyes shining as he sang.
    “ Watch out,” Beth screamed
over the music.
    Selena slammed the brakes and slowed the
car. She’d been so busy watching the mirror, she hadn’t seen the
hairpin curve on the dark road.