Read It and Weep! Read Online Free Page A

you smile, Charlotte?”
    Charlotte could feel her cheeks turn red. She shook her head.
    â€œWhatever. Listen. We need to help each other,” Stacy continued. “This accelerated math class we’re in together is super ridiculous. I’m going to be a singer, so what do I need math for, right? So why don’t we make a deal? You can help me with the math homework, and I’ll give you some fashion advice, which you are badly in need of—no offense.”
    Before Charlotte had time to respond, Mrs. Benedict returned to class and flicked the lights on and off, which the kids knew meant it was time to get back to their seats for announcements. Stacy flounced back to her chair.
    â€œWhy is she like that?” whispered Charlotte, staring at Stacy in disbelief.
    â€œI guess she really thinks she’s above everyone,” whispered Lauren. “And why wouldn’t she? She is star of the girls’ basketball team. Actress. Singer. And she’s going out with Julian Wilson. But whatever. She despises me now because I got the role of Adelaide in Guys and Dolls , which she really wanted. She’s got a great role in the school musical too, but she really wanted to be Adelaide.”
    Charlotte frowned. “I don’t like the idea of her copying off me,” she said. “But she looks like somebody to watch out for.” Charlotte had been at enough schools to learn to recognize these people.
    Announcements droned on, but finally the bell rang, and everyone filed out and headed for their next class.
    It wasn’t until after they’d parted that Charlotte realized she’d forgotten to pass the card to Lauren.

Chapter 4
    Charlotte didn’t take the bus home after school. She decided to walk so she could stop by the library to return that awful book.
    She peered in through the window as she approached the library.
    Nice Mrs. Lazer was still not at her desk in the reference room. The same grumpy librarian from yesterday was there.
    The book return bin was located just outside the front door. Just as Charlotte had clanged the bin closed, the library door opened, and Mrs. Drayton came out. She was the mother of one of Charlotte’s new acquaintances at school.
    â€œOh, hello, Charlotte,” she said. “Awful thing about Mrs. Lazer, isn’t it?”
    â€œMrs. Lazer? The librarian? I didn’t hear. What happened?” asked Charlotte.
    â€œShe slipped off a stool two days ago when she was reshelving a book on one of the high shelves,” said Mrs. Drayton. “I think she’ll be all right, but they want her off her feet for a while. See you soon, I hope!”
    No wonder she hadn’t seen Mrs. Lazer lately. Charlotte considered going inside to look for a new book, but then decided she didn’t feel like it. Not today. Not with the grumpy substitute librarian in there. Maybe she’d get ahead on her English homework tonight instead. They were reading A Midsummer Night’s Dream , the play by Shakespeare.
    As she stood there, ready to head home, she realized she didn’t have her copy of the play. She’d left it in her locker in her haste to get going.
    â€œAw, man,” she said out loud. She knew her mom wanted her home soon, because she was working at the hospital tonight, and she wanted Charlotte to help the twins with their homework. Charlotte decided to take the shortcut back to school to get her book, which meant going back through the patch of woods behind the library. On the other side of the woods were the baseball field and the back of the middle school.
    Charlotte trotted down the front steps and then headed around to the back, behind the library, toward the woods. She found the narrow path, but the footing was uneven and not very well maintained. It was only a short distance—about half the size of the school’s football field—through the little patch of trees, but Charlotte was surprised at how quickly