If You Only Knew Read Online Free Page B

button. Make out at the bus stop. Yeah, sure.
    “She’s just in seventh grade,” Devin called from inside the bus.
    “I’m big for my age,” I explained.
    “Oh,” said the driver.
    “Thanks,” I said as she closed the door. I really do say thanks too much.
    The bus pulled away. Bay and her best friend, Lauren, were waving at me out the back window. I waved back, wishing CJ were at my bus stop, or that Tommy and Jonas would show up already. I had nothing to do but wait, alone. I hate being left out.

four
    “D on’t the sixth graders look tiny?” CJ’s best friend, Morgan, asked. “Can you believe we were that little last year?”
    “I wasn’t,” I said.
    “I still am,” said Olivia Pogostin. She’s four foot nine and sixty-seven pounds, which I find a bit hard to take at times, but she’s really sincere and she has a pool table, so she’s always been popular. She unlocked her locker with a key from her keychain. She’s one quarter Filipino, one quarter black, and half white. The rest of us have combination locks and are just plain white.
    “Wait for you by the wall,” Tommy yelled, passing us.
    “Great!” I yelled back.
    Morgan blew her bangs away from her eyes and asked, “They’re coming with us?”
    “If that’s OK,” I said.
    Nobody said anything for a minute. CJ and Morgan looked at each other.
    “I could tell them forget it,” I offered. “But what’s the difference?”
    “No,” said Morgan. “That’s fine with me.”
    “Me, too,” agreed CJ.
    “And maybe after,” I suggested, “how about if we hang out at the pizza place?”
    CJ smiled at me.
    Morgan asked, “You like their pizza? It’s so soggy.”
    “I don’t care,” I said.
    “Sounds great to me,” CJ whispered.
    Olivia slammed her locker closed and said, “Have fun getting school supplies.”
    “Have fun at the orthodontist,” I answered.
    “That’s likely. Hey, you three want to come over, after?” she asked. “I should be done by four-fifteen.”
    “Sounds good to me,” I said. I love shooting pool. Morgan and CJ agreed, too. I noticed Tommy and Jonas weren’t invited but I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want them to think I got boy-crazy over the summer or anything. Olivia thinks boy-crazy girls are pathetic.
    “Wish me luck!” Olivia said, and ran toward the main door.
    “Luck!” I yelled.
    When Olivia was around the corner, CJ said, “My mom was saying Olivia thinks she might not have to get braces.”
    Morgan and I shook our heads. Everybody knew Olivia would be getting them. Her teeth are very crowded.
    We headed out to meet the Levit boys by the wall. It was a relief to get outside on such a great day. It was so sunny and hot, Morgan and CJ had sat together under the chestnut tree at lunch instead of playing kickball. Olivia played, though, and Roxanne. I wasn’t the only girl.
    “Ready?” Morgan asked the boys. They jumped off the wall and we all started walking. She and CJ seemed perfectly happy to have Tommy and Jonas coming. I was glad. It’s not like we’re in fourth grade, afraid of cooties or something. No reason we can’t all be friends.
    Jonas asked Morgan, “Do you believe we have to sing ‘Everything’s Coming Up Roses’ again this year?”
    She laughed and blew her bangs away from her eyes. They’re in chorus together, and they always make fun of the songs Mrs. Bauman chooses. They started walking really fast, inventing nasty new lyrics for the corny chorus songs. CJ and Tommy are in band with me, so we three walked together.
    “Are we allowed to get erasable pens?” Tommy asked.
    “I hate those,” CJ said. “They leave smudges all over your hands.”
    “Yeah,” said Tommy. “But you can change your mind.” He kicked a rock. “Do you ever wear your hair down?”
    CJ blushed and didn’t answer. I jumped in for her, to help. “She looks awesome with it down.”
    “Because you always have it in a bun. It looks so tight.” He was blushing, too. I’ve