The Complete Burn for Burn Trilogy: Burn for Burn; Fire With Fire; Ashes to Ashes by Jenny Han Read Free Book Online Page B

away I say, “Please don’t tell him you saw me.” The last thing I want is to have Reeve hear that I’m still crying over him.
    The bell rings, and Lillia pulls a tube of cherry ChapStick out of her shorts pocket and rubs it on her bottom lip. She presses her lips together with a pop. “Don’t sweat it. I’ve already forgotten your name.” She looks at Kat and says, “Gotta run,” and then walks out.
    Kat watches her go, and when the door swings closed, she says to me in a low voice, “Hey. So, Lillia was crying, right?”
    I look at my sandals. That’s private. I shouldn’t even have been in here.
    “Did you hear her say anything? What was she upset about?”
    “No. Nothing.”
    Kat sighs, disappointed. “Where are you supposed to be right now, Mary?”
    “I don’t even know.”
    “Where’s your schedule?”
    I look in my bag, but I can’t find it. “Um, I think I have chemistry now.”
    She pushes her bangs out of her eyes and peers at me. “Wait,aren’t you a senior? Why haven’t you taken chemistry yet?”
    I wet my lips. “I got really sick at the end of seventh grade, so I was held back a year.”
    “That sucks. Well, the science department is over on the east side of the building. You’re going to have to book it over there to make it in time.” She pauses. “Listen, don’t let that jackhole Reeve get to you. Karma’s a bitch. He’ll get his.”
    “I don’t know,” I say. “I mean, I wish I could believe it. But Reeve seems fine. I’m the one who’s been hiding in the bathroom all morning.”
    “He’s not worth it,” she says. “None of these people are. Trust me.”
    Gratefully I say, “Thanks, Kat.” She’s the first person to really talk to me today.
    I follow Kat out of the bathroom. She makes a left and heads down the hall. I watch her go, discreetly, in case she might look back at me.
    She doesn’t.

CHAPTER SIX
    LILLIA
     
    A LL OF THE GIRLS TRYING OUT FOR THE SQUAD ARE sitting on the football field bleachers in their short shorts and camis. Nadia is in the first row with a couple of her friends. I smile at her, and Nadia gives me a small smile back. I’m relieved she’s not still upset about my back handspring comment.
    Rennie’s standing with Coach Christy in front of the girls, while Ashlin and I sit on the sidelines. We’ve got our uniforms on, like models. Rennie, too. Sleeveless shells with a J sewn on the chest, pleated skirts with bloomers underneath, andthe ankle socks with the tiny colored balls on the heels. I have to admit, it feels kind of good to be wearing my uniform again.
    When Coach Christy runs back to the gym office to photocopy permission slips, Rennie springs into action. Surveying the bleachers, she says in a low voice, “Okay, here’s the real deal. If you want to be a Jar Island varsity cheerleader, you have to look and act the part full-time. You’re not just representing yourself; you’re representing me. This is my squad. I have standards.” She pauses for effect. “Fingers crossed, we’re getting new uniforms this season, and they’re gonna be crop tops. That means I don’t want to see one French fry on anyone’s plate at lunch. I’m serious. Also, Dori.” Dori looks up, startled. “You need to retire that jacket. It makes you look like a soccer mom.”
    I gasp, and Ashlin giggles behind her hand.
    The girls whisper to each other nervously. Rennie looks over her shoulder to make sure Coach Christy isn’t on her way back outside, and she snaps, “Did I say I was finished?”
    Everyone hushes up.
    “There can’t be any weak links whatsoever. That means if your friend is slacking, you let her know. Like, just as a forinstance, Melanie, you need to commit these three words to memory stat: ‘cleanse,’ ‘tone,’ ‘moisturize.’” Melanie’s eyes fill up with tears, but she quickly nods.
    I honestly can’t believe what I’m hearing. I mean, okay, Melanie has bad skin, but does Rennie need to blow up her spot in