Next Door to a Star Read Online Free Page B

waited for her to finish talking. She was in no hurry to get off the phone so I stared out the window.
    “Asia, I’m so bored. There’s nothing to do,” she said, twirling her blonde hair. “I went for a walk today and I didn’t see a single cute guy. Not one. I know,” she said. “When are you coming back?”
    Simone went on about how bored she was and how “life sucked.” She hung up with her friend and then stared over at me, and I went into this whole thing about meeting her last summer, but she cut me off and said she was going to lay out in her backyard. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do, so I followed her outside. She spread her towel out and rubbed some Chanel sunscreen on her face, arms, and legs. I had seen that lotion on the Style Network and I knew it cost a ton. I watched her lean back and put a towel over her face, while I sat there like an idiot. I couldn’t believe she was only going to be a sophomore in the fall like me. She seemed more like an eighteen-year-old. Simone got bored after a while and said she was going down to the beach.
    “Hey, do you have a swimsuit?” she asked. I nodded. “Go get it and we can hang on the beach, ‘kay?”
    Was that actually an invitation to hang out with her? I nodded and raced back to the house to change into my new bathing suit.
    “Grandma, I’m going to the beach with Simone,” I said as I walked to the door.
    “Okay, have fun and take your phone with you,” she said.
    I took a deep breath as I headed over to Simone’s. I felt like my whole life was about to change.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    I got to Simone’s and she was sitting on the porch texting and waiting for me.
    “Finally, I thought you died,” she said. “Let’s go.”
    Simone walked fast, and I had to almost run to keep up as I followed her to the beach. She stood on the sand for a minute, looking around for the best place for us. Then she went to the area right in front of the tan lifeguard with perfect hair. She looked up at him, flashed her perfect Colgate smile, and spread out her towel. Her towel said “Juicy Couture” on it, while mine had Hello Kitty on the front. I flipped it over to the plain side so I didn’t look like such a kid.
    I turned to ask her something and realized she was listening to music on her iPhone. I sat there unsure if I should be glad I was hanging out with someone or if I should try to get to know her.
    “Simone?” I asked. She was moving her lips as she listened to the music, and even though her sunglasses were on, I could see her eyes were closed. I tapped her wrist and she sat straight up.
    “What’s up?” she asked.
    I lost all courage and said, “Do you want me to get you a soda from the concession stand?”
    “Oh yeah, sure. That’d be great. Cherry Coke if they have it,” she said as she went back to her reclining position and turned her music back up.
    Well, at least she was talking to me, although she didn’t offer me any money to get her drink. I got up and went to get her soda. As I waited in line, I noticed all the groups that were together on the beach. There wasn’t one person who was there alone. I hoped Simone and I would hit it off so I didn’t have to spend summer up in my room by myself. I would go broke with all the books I’d download, and eventually I’d run out of stuff to read. No, I was going to have to make an effort with Simone to become someone she wanted to hang out with.
    I walked back to the towels with her soda.
    “Thanks, doll,” she said opening it. “We’ve been here ten whole minutes and that lifeguard hasn’t even come over to talk to us.”
    “Well, he’s working. There’s probably a policy where they can’t take their eyes off the water.”
    “Yeah, lame,” she said. “But you’re probably right. I’ll have to catch him off duty, I guess. Want to go for a walk and see if there’s anyone interesting over by the lighthouse?”
    I nodded, and she told me