Will Always Be Read Online Free

ever since I saw them this morning I’ve had a really bad feeling.
    “Did you know that Melissa and Carmen are friends?” I ask softly.
    He nods. “Yeah, since freshman year. Why?”
    “I don’t know,” I say, trying to sound calm. “I just saw them together this morning and I kind of got a bad feeling. I mean, it’s not exactly a secret that Melissa isn’t a fan of us dating.”
    Austin frowns. “But I don’t talk to Melissa.”
    “I know that. I just hope her and Carmen aren’t up to anything, that’s all.”
    Suddenly he looks really annoyed. “You don’t even know Carmen. Don’t you think it’s a little unfair to judge her?”
    “I’m not judging her. I’m just saying I have a bad feeling, that’s all.”
    He looks at me for a second and then nods. “Oh, I get it. You’re jealous.”
    I take a step away from him. “I’m not jealous. I’m just trying to talk to my boyfriend about a concern I have. I didn’t know that was a crime.”
    Our gym teacher blows a whistle to let us know class is about to start and everyone starts to line up against the wall.
    Austin shakes his head. “I better go.”
    Then he leaves me standing there. Alone.

    ***
    When I walk into the library after school later that day, I’m still annoyed about my fight with Austin. I didn’t see him again for the rest of the day. So around lunchtime I sent him a text that just said “hey.” But he never answered me. Was he really that mad at me? I wasn’t even trying to start a fight. I just wanted him to be aware in case Melissa and Carmen tried to do something.
    The more I thought about it though, the more I thought maybe Austin was right. I didn’t really know Carmen. Maybe she was nothing like Melissa. Maybe the fact that I was a little jealous was clouding my judgment of the situation.
    I look around the library and see Mark sitting at a table toward the back. Karli must not be here yet. I walk toward him and set my backpack down on the table.
    “Hey,” I say sitting down across from him.
    He flips his cell phone shut. “Hey.”
    “Ah, using your cell phone in the library I see. Someone likes breaking the rules.”
    He rolls his eyes and shoots me a smile. “Oh yeah, I’m a real bad ass, aren’t I?”
    I smile and then take my own phone out of my pocket and check my inbox.
    Nothing back from Austin. I frown.
    “Waiting for a text?” Mark asks me.
    “No,” I say too quickly. “Well, maybe.”
    “Feel like talking about it?”
    I bite my lip. I do want to talk about it to someone. But Mark probably isn’t the best person to have this conversation with. I mean he’s on the basketball team with Austin. The same basketball team that Carmen is the “manager” of. (Who has a girl manager on a boy’s basketball team anyway? I mean not that girls can’t be into basketball, but I’m just saying. I’ve never heard of it before.) Anyway, the last thing I need is Mark running to Austin or Carmen saying I was freaking out about them being friends or something. Which, I’m not. Freaking out that is.
    “I won’t say anything to Austin if that’s what you’re worried about,” he says to me. It’s like he totally read my mind.
    I bite my lip. It would be totally stupid to tell him. I don’t even know him. But, on the other hand, it’s not like Austin’s trying to talk to me about it and it is really weighing on my mind. Oh, what the hell.
    “It’s not even a secret really, I just probably shouldn’t be talking about it.”
    Mark nods. “I don’t want to pressure you. But if you do want to get it off your chest I’m a really good listener.”
    I sigh. “I might have a little bit of jealousy.”
    He laughs. “Let me guess. Carmen?”
    “God, am I that obvious?”
    He reaches into his bag and pulls out a notebook and a few pencils and then shakes his head. “No, I’ve just known Carmen since middle school so I know how she is.”
    Of course he’s known her since middle school. Apparently everyone