Invisible Read Online Free Page A

party,” I say with as much authority as I can muster.
    Mom stands, all five foot two of her, and peers down at me. Sitting, I’m still almost her size. Both hands are planted firmly on her hips and, even though I could hip check her into next Thursday with little effort, I hang my head.
    “ You and I will go shopping for that dress and you will go to that party, like it or not!” Looking like a child in her bulky terry cloth bathrobe, she stomps from the kitchen.
    “ I can’t understand why she’s forcing me to go. What difference does it make to her?” I say with little hope of support from my sister.
    “ She wants to know you’re a girl,” Eva says.
    I whip my head around to face her, my eyes narrowed. “What the hell does that mean?”
    Eva shifts her gaze and suddenly looks sorry for opening her mouth. “You know. She just wants to make sure you … that you like boys,” she says quickly, then gets up and leaves.
    I’m left alone with my anger. Why does everyone need me to be something that I’m not? Does Jon think I’m some kind of freak? Or that I’m a lesbian and not for him? I’m starting to feel like I want to disappear again when Mom returns dressed in skinny jeans and a sparkly scoop-necked top; spiky heels click on the ceramic tiles.
    “ Get goin’, you’ll be late,” she says coldly and, to my disappointment, I know I’m still visible.

 
    Chapter Seven
     
    I slam the door to my locker and click the lock in place. Hugging my books to my chest, I start for homeroom.
    “ Hey, Lola, wait up,” a distant voice calls. I squint and spot Charlie. Right now she’s not much more than a dot on the horizon as she runs toward me.
    “ Hi,” I answer when she finally arrives and walks with me. Usually she trudges, playing the brooding emo thing to the max, but today there’s a bounce in her step and a smile on her lips.
    “ What’s with you?” I ask.
    She bounces in front of me and walks backwards. “Oh come on, you know.”
    A smile plays on my lips as I think about my super power, but it fades quickly because I’m still upset about having to go shopping with my mother.
    “ Yeah, I guess it’s pretty cool,” I say.
    “ Cool’s an understatement.” Charlie stops and I nearly slam into her. She leans in close and whispers, “I’ve got an idea.”
    “ For what?”
    “ You know,” she says and gives me a knowing look.
    “ Oh,” I say as realization dawns. “What is it?” I feel obliged to ask, but don’t really want to know.
    “ Tell you at lunch.” Her smile is bright as she hops off to art, the only class she likes. I wave and continue on to English lit, wondering about her idea. My stomach tenses at the possibilities.
    English is the only class I have with Jon. He sits in front of me, which can be a good thing, because I get to stare at the back of his head every day, but it can also be a bad thing, because he’s a distraction. Mrs. Wright is rambling on about Wuthering Heights. I listen with one ear, but both my eyes are glued on Jon. What’s he thinking? How I wish I could read his mind. Or maybe not. What if he thinks I’m a loser like everyone else seems to?
    Still, a small part of me wants to reach out and run my hands through his thick curly hair and another part wants to slap him. He’s so cute and usually so nice, but I can’t get the thought of him with Nino and Tyler out of my head. What does he see in them? Have I pegged him wrong all these years?
    I pull my attention away from Jon when Mrs. Wright says she’s giving us some class time to begin our essays. I yank my journal from my knapsack and start to write, only I’m not starting my essay, I’m writing my short story. The short story I plan to enter for the Bridgewood High creative writing scholarship award. The winner receives a partial university scholarship. My heart quickens at just the thought of it. There aren’t many teenagers jazzed about writing like I am, but for me the contest is a