"Oh My Gods" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tera Lynn Childs)

just rightтАФand itтАЩs not like I can buzz back home to pick up a few things.

My eyes are watering as I pull down the curtain rod and slide the curtains off one end. Although their gauzy quality didnтАЩt do much to block out light, I now have an undiluted view of our neighborтАЩs house. More precisely, Jerky JustinтАЩs bedroom window.

HeтАЩs probably in there with Mitzi Busch right now.

ThatтАЩs the one, singular benefit of moving to the other side of the world. I wonтАЩt have to see his smug face in the halls of Pacific Park anymore. There is no downside to being thousands of miles from the ex-boyfriend who delights in making my life miserable.

Like itтАЩs my fault I wonтАЩt put out. Well, actually it is, but that doesnтАЩt mean he needed to break up with me at junior prom and make a big show of sucking MitziтАЩs tonsils whenever IтАЩm around.

I turn from the window in a huff, inspired by the thought of never seeing him again. Nola and Cesca are standing right behind me, eyes wet and arms outstretched.

тАЬDamn, weтАЩre going to miss you,тАЭ Cesca says.

Nola nods. тАЬWonтАЩt be the same without your energy.тАЭ

I step into their arms for a group hug.

The thrill of leaving Justin behind evaporates and all I can think is how IтАЩm never going to see my two best friends ever again. At least not until collegeтАФwhen we will all be together at USC.

No more holding back the tears. They stream down my cheeks, dripping off my chin onto my DISTANCE RUNNERS DO IT LONGER T-shirt, CescaтАЩs silk ruffled halter top, and NolaтАЩs unbleached organic cotton peasant blouse.

13





Trying to salvage some degree of cool, I wipe at my tear-puffed eyes and say, тАЬAt least we get Internet on the island.тАЭ

That would have been a deal breaker.

No Internet, no Phoebe.

Cesca wipes at her own tears, usually only called upon when she had to convince her dad she needed something really expensive.

тАЬThen you have to e-mail every day.тАЭ

тАЬMaybe,тАЭ Nola says, her face glowing as she embraces the raw emotion of her tears, тАЬwe can have a regular IM meet.тАЭ

тАЬAs if,тАЭ I say. тАЬThereтАЩs a ten-hour time difference.тАЭ

тАЬWeтАЩll just have to work something out,тАЭ she persists.

Nola is nothing if not persistent.

тАЬYouтАЩre right,тАЭ I manage, if only because I want to put on a brave face until theyтАЩre gone, when I can cry my eyes out on my stripped-to-the-mattress bed.

тАЬOkay, enough blubbering,тАЭ Cesca says. тАЬLetтАЩs get your junk packed so we can watch The Bold and the Beautiful before I have to head home.тАЭ