Deception Read Online Free

everything, on top of keeping up good grades."
    "Did you need me to prove myself?" I asked. "You certainly didn't need Natalie to prove herself."
    He sighed. "I know you feel jealous of her. It's not a competition."
    "That's what you guys always say! How is it not a competition? When I had my sixteenth birthday eleven months ago, you guys got me an iPod, then for her sweet sixteen you guys buy her a very expensive car. What's the deal with that?"
    "I don't know, honey. It's not like I planned it that way," he said. "I would like for us to get you something very nice for your birthday. Is there anything that you want?"
    I sighed. "I'll have to think about it."
    "Honey, I hope you know how proud I am of you. You want something and you go after it until you get it," he said. "You had already worked for and bought your car before you turned sixteen. Not many kids do that. You've been working hard on your grades for years, so that you have a flawless record to get into a top school. You're not yet seventeen and you already know what the requirements are for getting into those Ivy League schools."
    I wasn't sure how to react to what I was hearing.
    "Alexis, I'm not very good at expressing how I feel, but I could see that it needed to be said. I want you to always know that's how I feel. I'm very proud of you, your responsibility and big dreams. I know that you will fulfill them all."
    "Thanks," I said, uncomfortably. I wasn't used to this type of conversation. So I grabbed my bag. "I have to go. I don't want to keep Brooke waiting."
    He gave me an awkward hug before I walked out of my bedroom.
    As I walked through the kitchen, my mom stepped in front of me. "Where do you think you are going?"
    "I'm going to spend the night at Brooke's house. Dad said I could."
    "You don't deserve it after the way that you behaved yesterday. What are you wearing, anyway?"
    "Clothes," I told her.
    "I don't get you at all," she said. "You don't care a bit about what's stylish or about looking nice to any degree. That's why I don't ever buy you nice things; you wouldn't even appreciate it. You just go and buy yourself plain things and you're happy with that." She looked thoroughly disgusted.
    "You don't ever buy me anything, so I am forced to buy cheap stuff with my measly deli income! If I didn't buy myself anything then I would have nothing." I stormed out of the house, ignoring whatever it was that my mom yelled at me as I left.
    I got into my car as fast as I could, put Brooke's new address into my navigation system and was very glad when I pulled into the driveway of her new place. A full night without my family!
    When I got inside the house, Brooke's mom, Rachel, gave me a big hug. Her dad, Charles, and brother Stephen remarked on how good it was to see me again. It felt like they'd never moved away and it also felt more like family than when I was at home. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed not only Brooke but her whole family until that moment.
    Dinner was full of lively conversation and a lot of questions directed at me, since they hadn't seen me in a couple of years.
    After dinner, Brooke nearly dragged me up to her room. We sat on her huge, king sized bed and started talking about what we'd missed in each other's lives over the last couple of years.
    "I'm glad that you are still planning on going to an Ivy League school!" she said. "You've been working so hard on your grades for so long. You can do anything!"
    "And I can't believe that you went from wanting to be a teacher to a fashion designer!" I exclaimed.
    We both laughed.
    "I can't believe that we didn't stay in touch!" I said.
    "We'll keep in touch now! I'm so glad that I ran into you at the park, I've missed you so much!"
    She smiled. "So are you going to your homecoming dance? It's only a couple of weeks away. Mine is on that Friday night and yours is the next night."
    I groaned. "I'm trying to ignore the whole thing. Natalie will probably be crowned Sophomore Princess and I don't