Thrown a Curve by Sara Griffiths Read Free Book Online

nodded.
    “Taylor Dresden,” I said, unsure why he wasn’t speaking. “Remember?”
    He gestured toward a comfy-looking chair and said, “Oh, I know who you are, Taylor. Have a seat.”
    I sat down on the end of the chair and placed my book bag between my legs. I looked around the room, waiting for him to talk, but he just sat there quietly.
    The office was stuffed with books, pictures, and paintings. Some pictures were hanging up, and others were leaning against the walls. The overall effect was that of an organized mess. Everything had its own pile. His desk had a jar on it with different packets of weird herbal tea. The flavors had names like “Soothing Cinnamon” and “Raspberry Relaxation.” Two brightly-colored stuffed bears were leaning against his computer. Long spider plants hung from the large window behind his desk, and the sun was leaving a glossy shine on the leaves. It was a warm, cozy room, especially compared to the gray hallway I’d just left. Maybe he lived in his office.
    Sacamore was wearing jeans and a black sweater that was fuzzy from being over-worn. It seemed like hours before he said anything.
    “So, how are you feeling today?” Sacamore said.
    I nodded. “Fine.”
    “Did you do that yourself?” he said, pointing to my hair.
    “Yeah,” I answered shyly.
    “Any particular reason?”
    So my dad might notice I was alive. But I couldn’t tell Sacamore that. “Nope.”
    “Okay.” He waited a few long moments, then said, “Baseball practice begins next week?”
    “Yep.”
    “How do you feel about it?”
    What was he trying to get me to say? “A little nervous, I guess.”
    Again he waited. Maybe he wanted me to say more, so I continued. “They put me on the varsity team.”
    “Are you happy about that?” he asked.
    “Well, at least I don’t know most of those guys, ’cause they’re not in my classes.”
    I wasn’t happy that Rick was on the team. I was sure Stacy would be coming to all the games. I wished Rick didn’t know me.
    “Not knowing anyone is a good thing?”
    I shrugged. “It’s easier when no one knows you. You can lay low, you know?”
    Sacamore nodded a bit. “Tell me about your friends, Taylor,” he said.
    I shifted uncomfortably in my seat and looked at the floor. “What, like girl friends?”
    “Girls, boys, whatever.”
    “Well, my only good friend is Justin. I don’t really have any girl friends.”
    “That’s okay, but why do you think that is?”
    I shrugged. “I don’t know. Girls don’t seem to like me, I guess.”
    He waited for more. I didn’t say any more. We sat there quietly for a while, and then he spoke. “Are you ready for your homework?”
    What? He’s giving me homework? “Homework?” I asked.
    “Yes. We’re in school, and you’re a student, so I’m giving you an assignment.”
    “Okay,” I said reluctantly.
    “I want you to open up to someone. Anyone. Someone you already know or someone you just met. Over the next few weeks, show someone a little Taylor Dresden, and then see how you feel afterward. You don’t even have to tell me about it.”
    Confused by his hippie-like weirdness, I asked, “Then how will you know if I did it?”
    He smiled. “I’ll know,” he said.
    Okay, whatever. Open up—sure, okay. We chatted for a few more minutes about baseball and my grades, and then the bell rang for lunch. We said goodbye, and I hurried down the hall to my locker, where Justin was waiting for me.
    “How’d it go?” he asked.
    “It was weird.”
    “You’re weird,” he said, teasing.
    “You’re a freak,” I said back.
    We headed toward the cafeteria. “You’re freaky and weird,” Justin said, “and your feet smell like Cheetos.”
    I started to laugh and punched him in the arm as we walked. Thank goodness someone could make me laugh.

    I spent most of Saturday hiding in my room, but by Saturday night, I had to get out of the house. I also felt like I should practice before Monday’s team practice. I was