This Ordinary Life by Jennifer Walkup Read Free Book Online

line the large area are already filled, and more than a few people lounge under some of the other shade trees. But no Frankie yet.
    As I’m unwrapping the bagel and opening the book we’re reading in English—
The Invisible Man,
which, I have to admit, is pretty good—my mouth almost drops open when I hear a squeaky, syrupy-sweet voice.
    â€œGive it back!”
    It’s her.
    My head whips to the side, my gaze sweeping the courtyard. Great. And him. There they are, Sebastian and mystery girl, sitting at one of the side tables, her lying on the bench with her head in his lap, looking up at him. He smiles down at her and tweaks her nose.
    Puke.
    I turn my back to them, letting my hair fall like a curtain to hide my face, which feels like it’s on fire. Breathe, Jasmine. Don’t cry.
    So basically, he had the nerve to come up to me at my locker this morning and act like he gave a crap about me or my family, and now here he is with her? Appetite gone, I shove the bagel back in the bag and lean against the tree trunk, studying my book as if it’s got the answers to my life scrawled on its pages. I’m not about to leave this courtyard. I’m certainly not being driven out by them. I blink furiously against my gathering tears, thankful for my dark sunglasses.
    Eleven months. That’s how long we dated. I mean, he was my first boyfriend, first kiss. I think of his comment this morning. So what if we never got as far physically as Sebastian always wanted to go? Is that really a reason to find someone else? Whatever. Looks like I made the right decision about that after all. Shallow bastard. My heart is wrung out just thinking abouthow much I cared about him, that I thought I maybe even loved him. Never again will I trust someone so quickly.
    When Frankie finally steps outside, swinging her bright paisley lunch bag, her eyebrows go so high, they’re completely hidden under her bangs.
    â€œReally?” She practically yells. Frankie does not know the meaning of an inside voice. She flops down on the grass next to me. “Is he even serious right now?”
    Still yelling.
    â€œShhhh. Can we not alert every single person out here to the awkwardness of the situation?”
    â€œAs if it’s not obvious?”
    â€œFantastic. Really.” I groan.
    â€œI’m just saying!”
    â€œShhhhh! Please stop. I know you’re trying to help, but talking about him makes me want to throw up.” I lie back on the grass, resting my open book on my chest. I flip my glasses back down over my eyes. “Who is she, anyway?” I whisper.
    â€œShe’s a freshman, I think? I’m pretty sure she is the youngest of the Lanes.”
    â€œAh, I
can
kind of see the resemblance.” The Lane family has a zillion kids, which until now I had thought were all boys, all of which already graduated.
    â€œI think her name is Alexa. I’m pretty sure she runs on the cross country team. Don’t worry, I’ll dig for more. Please tell me she isn’t
the
one. Is she?” She flops down on the grass next to me and lowers her voice. “The one, one? The one you found him with?”
    I nod.
    Please don’t let me throw up out here in front of everyone.
    â€œGood God,” Frankie says. I turn toward her as she continues to shake her head. “Sebastian is an ass.”
    â€œObviously.”
    â€œObviously.” She unwraps her sandwich slowly and takes a bite. “She’s got nothing on you. She’s not even pretty. And listen to her. Obviously she’s annoying as hell.”
    I groan. “Don’t bother to try to make me feel better.”
    Frankie sighs. “I’m sorry. What else can I do? Let’s do something fun. Want to hang out after school?”
    â€œCan’t. I have to be home for Danny.”
    â€œWhere’s Elena?”
    Frankie is the only one who refers to my mom by her first name.
    â€œWorking.”
    She