The Gossip Web Read Online Free Page B

chunk of dough into the air. I grinned back at him before walking away. I passed Erika as she was entering the house.
    “Jade, how are you?” She asked me with a smile.
    “Fine,” I replied bluntly.
    My rude tone didn’t seem to faze her. Still smiling cheerfully, Erika asked, “I was wondering, Jade, if you would like to go shopping with me later? I heard of some great deals going on at the mall and I was thinking about heading down there after dinner. What do you say?”
    My stomach churned at the thought of spending time alone with her. Hurrying on down the hall, I cleverly used my schoolwork as an excuse. It was the perfect defense. “Sorry, but I have to do my homework now, Erika. Then, I have to study afterwards…so I won‘t have time to go tonight.”
    “Oh, okay. Another time then,” she replied, giving me another little smile.
    I watched happily as she wandered off into the kitchen, while I was left alone in the hallway. Sighing with relief, I ran towards my bedroom, hurrying inside and shutting the door behind me. I really couldn’t deal with Erika tonight. My day had been a complete disaster, and I didn’t want to add anymore stress on myself.
    Lying down on my bed, I kicked my book bag onto the floor to give my legs more space. When I was finally comfortable, I allowed my mind to drift off. The first thing I thought of was Trace, and I frowned when I imagined the thoughts that went through his head today, after he had heard that horrible rubbish about me.
    “Please, God,” I whispered. “Don’t let him believe Gloria’s lies.”
    Then, I realized something. If I didn’t have my homework out when my father came to get me for dinner, I would look like a horrible liar. I bet Erika would just love that. Sitting up quickly, I reached for my bag and whipped out my chemistry folder and textbook. I opened both and laid them on my bed, so it would look like I was working. What a clever fox I was.
    Laying back down, I glanced over at my nightstand and reached out my hand, searching for a familiar book. I grasped West Haven’s yearbook from the previous year, and quickly flipped open to the sophomore index, then to the G’s, where I found Trace’s charming picture. I stared longingly at his face, disgusted with myself for being so pathetic, but I couldn’t toss the book away.
    It had been four years since he’d left West Haven Brook, and I still didn’t know the reason why. Trace had never told me, and I had never found the courage to ask him. After tracing a fingertip over his smile, I fought the urge to cry. I had been so happy back then, when we were best friends, but things were different now. Trace and I weren’t close anymore; he was too popular to hang around me. Biting a lip, I thought about our conversation earlier, and I wondered what we were.
    However, I didn’t ponder it too much. I simply laid there miserably, staring at his photograph as I waited for dinner.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    4
     
     
    THE FOLLOWING MORNING, IN HOMEROOM, I was sitting next to Heidi in our usual seats near the front of Mr. Acker’s class. His classroom was separated by status. I know it sounds weird, but it’s true. Heidi and I sat near the door. The nerds took the desks in the center, parallel to the chalkboard. Camille, Lacey, Freddie, and Trace, took up the back row of desks, and only a popular was allowed to sit back there with them. It was law that only those whom Camille deemed worthy were accepted, but given that she was such a wicked person, no one outside of her “clique” was permitted to.
    Since Gloria wasn’t in our homeroom, Camille took over for her, kicking her bitchiness up a notch. I couldn’t go through one day without her making some kind of rude remark about me. Except for today. She didn’t say one word to me when Heidi and I walked into class. Camille just looked up from her magazine, rolled her brown eyes, and completely ignored the fact that I was even there. It