Rock and a Hard Place by Angie Stanton Read Free Book Online Page A

inside the industry, which didn’t seem likely, she didn’t
know how they would meet anyone special. They needed to be with
young people their own age on an equal playing field.
    “ You know, on Saturday
we’ll be going back though that area.” She watched him and waited
for his reaction.
    “ Really? Do you think we
can stop? I’d love to check out that area some more.”
    “ I bet you would,” she
said.
    “ What?” He feigned
innocence.
    Karen almost laughed at his nonchalance. “I
was just agreeing with you.” She tried to control the smirk on her
face. “But, yes, I think we can stop.”
    Her cell phone rang. She stood to go answer
it. “By the way, what’s the name of your new song?”
    “ Angel Kisses.”
    She hid a smile and left Peter to his
music.
     
    # # #
     
    Libby knocked on Miss Orman’s open door,
desperate to get her help.
    “ Hey, Libby, I haven’t seen
you for a while. How are you doing?” A half sandwich, a container
of yogurt and an apple sat on the desk near her
keyboard.
    “ Good, thanks.” Libby
scanned the cramped office, as she tried to get up the nerve to
ask.
    Miss Orman smiled at her knowingly. “Is
there something in particular I can help you with?”
    “ Actually yes.” She eyed
Miss Orman’s PC, and twisted the pendant she always wore. “I need
to use a computer.”
    “ Why don’t you use the
computer lab after school?”
    “ I can’t do it before or
after school, I ride the bus. And there’s a class in the computer
lab during my lunch.” Libby offered her best pathetic, begging
look.
    Miss Orman seemed to consider her decision.
“I take it this is very important to you?”
    Libby nodded and held her breath. She needed
to get back on the internet and check out some of the Peter
Jamieson sites.
    “ Well I suppose I could
actually go to the lounge and eat lunch for a change, instead of
making a mess out of my office.” She glanced sideways at Libby.
“Would right now be a good time?”
    Libby nodded again, bringing a smile to Miss
Orman’s face.
    “ Tell you what, I’ll make
you a deal. You sell tickets for the Friday football game fan bus
tomorrow during lunch and I’ll clear out right now.”
    “ Done,” she blurted. Even
though she hated the idea of sitting alone at a table in the
commons all through lunch, she’d agree to anything to get on Miss
Orman’s computer.
    “ Alright, let me log off.
We can’t let the secret inner workings of the school leak out,” she
teased as her fingers clicked on the keyboard to save and close
files.
    Libby’s toe tapped as she anticipated
computer time alone with Peter. Miss Orman grinned at her as she
tidied the area around her keyboard and picked up her lunch
items.
    “ I should be able to give
you a good thirty minutes. Will that work?”
    “ Thank you, I can’t tell
you how much this means to me.” Libby wanted to hug her, but wished
she’d hurry up.
    “ No problem, have fun.” She
moved past Libby to the door then turned back. “By the way, no porn
sites.”
    “ Okay, if you insist.”
Libby said with a smile.
    Once Miss Orman left, Libby nudged the door
partly closed to discourage anyone from dropping in. She eased into
the counselor’s chair, enjoying the comfort.
    This time she didn’t hesitate. She brought
up the search engine, typed Peter’s name and hit enter. Bingo! The
sight of his face on the screen filled her with so much joy she
could barely contain herself.
    “ Yes, yes, yes.” She
squealed and stamped her feet.
    Immediately immersed in a world of Peter and
the group called Jamieson, she went from one site to another
soaking up every word and photo. Jamieson was huge. They’d
performed everywhere including major sporting events, talk shows
and award shows. Peter must think she lived under a rock, which was
sort of true.
    The time flew by so fast, she couldn’t
believe how soon Miss Orman returned. Libby’s face must have shown
disappointment, as she held the mouse about to click