Free The Boy Who Paints Me by Sharlay Page A

grin on her face.
     
    “They weren’t real,” Layla defended. I was thankful. These girls were forward. Fun, but forward.
     
    “Sweetheart, there are no rules when it comes to love. When it picks you, it picks you. It doesn’t discriminate, and it doesn’t care if you’re ready or not,” Megan said as she raised her eyebrow at me.
     
    “She’s right ladies, sometimes you’re just minding your own business and along comes a rock to trip you up, and make you fall,” Caroline said.
     
    “True, when you fall, you fall. Just make sure that you’re wearing a parachute and there’s a chance that you might just survive the fall,” Megan chuckled.
     
    “Ok, ok we’re scaring the poor girl now, she’s only just met us,” Layla jumped to my rescue.
     
    “She’s right,” Caroline added.
     
    “So, Rainie, are you planning to work this summer?” Megan asked.
     
    I hadn’t really given it much thought since I had all that money but I knew that I was going to have to make Aunt Sarah believe that I had some way of paying her, other than pulling money out of a magic sack.
     
    “Yeah,” I replied quietly.
     
    “Great, then it’s settled,” she beamed.
     
    “Huh?”
     
    “You can trial at the diner on Monday. Daddy’s looking for someone to work over the summer, and he told me to find someone. It couldn’t be more perfect, right? Unless you don’t want to?” She said in a sad tone.
     
    “No, I would like to, thank you,” I replied. I wasn’t sure what I wanted but this would keep Aunt Sarah convinced when she got back so I suppose it worked out best for all of us.
     
    “Great, that gives us even more reason to celebrate,” Megan chuckled.
     
    “What’s the other reason?” I asked curiously.
     
    “Layla here has only gone and gotten herself into Harvard!” She said proudly as Layla’s cheeks darkened.
     
    “That’s great, congratulations,” I replied as I smiled at her.
     
    “Thanks.”
     
    * * *
     
    The night was going great. The girls were loud but they were also some of the nicest people I had ever met. I had forgotten what it felt like to be a part of a group, and it felt nice. I even found myself talking, a lot. Like Leighton, it was like they were all aware that my past wasn’t up for discussion and none of them brought it up. I was grateful.
     
    “Oh, great, look who it is?” Caroline said as she rolled her eyes at the tall, blonde, who was stood a little too close to Leighton.
     
    “Who is she?” I asked without thinking.
     
    “That is Victoria Weasel -”
     
    “Her real name isn’t weasel,” Lalya interrupted with a giggle.
     
    “It suits her,” Caroline continued. “Anyway, she is stuck up, fake and sadly Leighton’s ex girlfriend,” she continued.
     
    My mind went blank after she said ‘Leighton’s ex girlfriend’. Suddenly I felt like I could sense her every move. I watched the way that she leaned a little too close to him. The way she giggled after everything that he was saying. No one was that funny. The way she curled her hair around her finger, and fluttered her eyelashes. I didn’t like this girl, not one bit.
     
    “Hello,” Megan said as she waved her hand in front of me.
     
    “Huh?”
     
    “I said are you having a nice time?” She repeated as I tried to pry my eyes off of Leighton and Victoria Weasel .
     
    “Erm, yeah, it’s great,” I replied, trying to sound normal.
     
    “Good, I’m really glad that you came tonight. The girls really seem to like you, and they don’t like everyone,” she chuckled as she looked towards Victoria.
     
    “I’m glad you invited me,” I replied genuinely.
     
    “Well, the best parts yet to come. Fireworks!” She squealed before pulling me towards the back yard where everyone seemed to be gathering. I left Leighton and Victoria behind reluctantly as I followed Megan.
     
    It had been ten minutes, and I was enjoying the fireworks but my mind was elsewhere. It shouldn’t be because I