Labeled Love Read Online Free Page A

nothing.
    When I reach the end of “exhibit row,” I get to the last piece of mine Mom framed. It’s a perfectly drawn guitar in pencil with a hint of brown shading, definitely my best piece of art, as it should be. Music is kind of my thing.
    The smell of maple syrup and warm blueberries hits my senses, as I walk downstairs to the kitchen. But, first I walk through our massive great room overlooking the city. Even I can appreciate this space at my age. Mom has the patio doors all open, letting in the morning breeze. Seeing the sparkle of the water as the sun glistens off our pool makes me want to go swimming and take a sick day. That’s not happening, though. I actually like school, and I have a test today in my first period. I’m pretty sure I’m going to ace it. My parents expect me to make good grades, and lucky me, I have no problem achieving them. I guess you could say I’m pretty smart.
    When I reach the kitchen, the chaos begins. Mom is frantic, trying to make sure Beau’s lunch is packed, and Tristan and Tatum, who are five years younger than me, are fighting. At the same time, they stop and ask Mom for something different, making her look like a chicken with her head cut off. She runs to the refrigerator to get Tristan more milk and grabs Tatum a banana, because she put too much syrup on her pancake, and she now refuses to eat it. I sit down next to my perfectly placed plate and start cutting my pancake with my fork. “Mom, have you seen my Converse?” I look up from my plate as my dad walks in, handsomely dressed. He waves at the twins and then goes right up to Mom. I watch as he grabs her face with his big, strong hands and kisses her straight on the mouth.
    “I love you, sweetheart,” he says. Mom gives him one more kiss on his lips. He winks at her.
    “Yuck,” the twins say, and I just stare, finding it really romantic how my dad kisses my mom. He does it just like the movies. When I’m ready to be kissed, I want it to be just like that.
    He brings her in for a hug. “I saw your shoes by the front door,” he tells me over her shoulder. He nuzzles into my mom’s neck, making her giggle when he releases her. “Did Beau already leave?” he asks.
    “Not yet. He’s cleaning up,” Mom tells him. He shakes his head, satisfied. I watch him intently as he kisses the twins on the top of the head and then comes over to me and kisses me on the cheek.
    “Have a good day at school today,” he says with a genuine smile.
    “Thanks, Daddy.”
    When he leaves, Mom gets the twins ready to put in the car while I grab my backpack and head out the door.
     

     
    WHEN WE ARRIVE at school, Jules is waiting for me by the entrance. We go to a private school in Los Angeles that centers on music and art—something my parents feel strongly about, and feel most public schools lack. I’m hoping I can go to a regular high school when I reach high school level. That’s what they let Beau do, and he loves it.
    My mom stops the car at the front of the entrance. “Okay, don’t be a busy bee after school. We’re going to volunteer today.”
    I smile and roll my eyes dramatically. “I know, Mom.”
    “Just make sure you’re right here when that bell rings. I know how you like to chitchat with your friends. You are such a social butterfly, Shay.”
    “I’m not chitchatting. I’m throwing the football with Cole and Brett.” She looks over at Jules standing there on her cell phone, dressed in a frilly peach skirt and a white tank top. She has on decorative flip-flops with her long blonde hair in a loose bun.
    “What does Jules do while you’re playing football with the boys?”
    “Exactly what she’s doing right now.” We both look at Jules in unison. Looking down at her phone, her face is concentrated, like she’s found the cure for cancer at twelve years old. “She’s probably just found a new fashion blog to follow. She always sits and watches me. Jules doesn’t get dirty. Besides, I don’t always