Wings Free with Bonus Material Read Online Free Page A

with him for the weekend.”
    “That’s cool.”
    “I guess.”
    “You don’t like him?”
    David shrugged. “Well enough. But he’s the one who left us, and he never tried to get more time with me or anything, so I just don’t feel like a priority to him, you know?”
    Laurel nodded. “I’m sorry.”
    “It’s fine. We always have fun. It’s just—kind of weird sometimes.”
    They sat in a peaceful silence for a few minutes, the tranquil clearing lulling them into a relaxed state. But then they both looked up as thunder rumbled across the sky.
    “I’d better take you back. It’s gonna pour soon.”
    Laurel stood and brushed herself off. “Thanks for bringing me here,” she said, gesturing at the tree. “This is pretty cool.”
    “I’m glad you liked it,” David said. He avoided her eyes. “But…that wasn’t really the point.”
    “Oh.” Laurel felt complimented and awkward all at the same time.
    “This way,” David said, his face coloring a little as he turned away.
    They climbed back over the fence just as the first drops of rain began to fall. “Do you want to call your mom to come pick you up?” David asked once they were back in the kitchen.
    “Nah, I’ll be fine.”
    “But it’s raining. I should walk you.”
    “No, it’s fine. Really, I like walking in the rain.”
    David paused for a second, then blurted, “Then can I call you? Maybe tomorrow?”
    Laurel smiled. “Sure.”
    “Good.” But he didn’t move from the kitchen doorway.
    “Door’s that way, right?” she asked, as politely as possible.
    “Yeah. It’s just, I can’t call you without your number.”
    “Oh, sorry.” She pulled out a pen and scribbled her number down on a notebook beside the phone.
    “Can I give you mine?”
    “Sure.”
    Laurel started to open her bag, but David stopped her. “Don’t worry about that,” he said. “Here.”
    David held her hand and scrawled his number across her palm.
    “This way you won’t lose it,” he said sheepishly.
    “Great. Talk to you later.” She flashed him a warm grin before letting herself out into the heavy drizzle.
    Once she was down the street just far enough that the house was out of sight, Laurel pushed back the hood of her jacket and lifted her face to the sky. She breathed deeply as the rain sprinkled on her cheeks and trickled down her neck. She started to stretch her arms out, then remembered the phone number. She buried her hands in her pockets and picked up her pace, smiling as the rain continued to fall softly on her head.
    The phone was ringing as Laurel walked into her house. Her mom didn’t seem to be home, so Laurel ran the last fewsteps to catch the call before the machine picked up. “Hello?” she said breathlessly.
    “Oh, hey, you’re home. I was just gonna leave a message.”
    “David?”
    “Yeah. Hi. Sorry to call so soon,” David said, “but I was thinking that we have that bio test next week and I thought maybe you’d like to come over tomorrow and study with me.”
    “Seriously?” Laurel said. “That would be awesome! I am so stressed about that test. I feel like I only know about half of the stuff.”
    “Great.” He paused. “Not great that you’re stressing over it, but great that—anyway.”
    Laurel grinned at his awkwardness. “What time?”
    “Just whenever. I’m not doing anything tomorrow except chores for my mom.”
    “Okay. I’ll call you.”
    “Great. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    Laurel said good-bye and hung up. She smiled as she bounded up the stairs, taking them two at a time.

FOUR
    SATURDAY MORNING, LAUREL’S EYES FLUTTERED OPEN at sunrise. She didn’t mind—she was a morning person, always had been. She usually woke about an hour before her parents and it gave her a chance to take a walk by herself and enjoy the sun on her back and the wind on her cheeks before she had to go spend hours indoors at school.
    After pulling on a sundress, she grabbed her mom’s old guitar from its case by the back