Free Cloudburst by V.C. Andrews Page A

other. It’s in the air.”
    â€œDidn’t you have any real friends in your previous school?”
    â€œNo, and I didn’t have any in grade school, either.” He glared at me, his eyes narrowing. “What’s your idea of a friend, anyway? Someone to share lipstick with?”
    â€œNo. My God, you’re so bitter.”
    The bell rang, and he slipped off the railing.
    â€œSo,” he said, reaching for the door. “Next time you want to talk to me, bring some sugar.”
    â€œI thought I had!” I shouted after him. He didn’t lookback. I stamped the ground, hating myself for even making an effort. Maybe the girls were right about him, I thought, and vowed to do my best to ignore him.
    I certainly wouldn’t dream about him, I told myself, and opened the door.
    I didn’t calm down fast, either. Jessica and Joey came rushing toward me when they saw me.
    â€œWas that a plan you made with him?” Jessica asked.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œGetting out of class together like that. Did you and Ryder plan that?”
    â€œGet real,” I said, starting away. My rage felt like fire around my face.
    â€œWe saw you come in the door soon after he did,” Joey called after me. “You were out there with him, weren’t you?”
    I turned around and smiled. “I was out there with Nobody,” I said, and continued walking away.

4
Jordan’s Secret
    W henever you get angry, you lose control of yourself in so many ways,” my mother told me almost every time she got angry at my father. “No matter what, in the end, you’re always the one who loses. Remember that.”
    The immediate result of my rage took place in my next class. I was fuming so much I wasn’t paying any attention, and when I was called on to answer a question, I didn’t even realize I had been called upon, much less answer the question. The resounding sound of my name being repeated snapped me out of it. I saw everyone was looking my way—everyone but Ryder, who kept his face fixed forward as though he couldn’t care less.
    â€œI’m sorry, Mr. Leshner,” I said.
    â€œRein in your thoughts, Sasha,” he said.
    I nodded. He didn’t repeat the question for me. He went on to someone else. After class, I hurried up front to apologize to him.
    â€œIt’s not like you to be daydreaming. Anything wrong?” he asked.
    â€œNo. It was just my being stupid,” I said.
    â€œDon’t make it a new habit, and we’ll be fine,” he said. His forgiveness only made me feel worse.
    I avoided Ryder for the remainder of the day. My friends sensed that I was in a bad mood, and everyone kept her distance—everyone, that is, except Jessica, who always looked like someone on the verge of a nervous breakdown when there was something she didn’t know about someone in school. She practically followed me to my car after school, waiting for me to tell her what really happened between me and Ryder Garfield. Finally, I spun on her so abruptly she stepped back like someone who thought she might be slapped.
    â€œLook, Jessica, I’m really not interested in talking about him. I’ve had enough darkness and disappointment in my life to fill the Grand Canyon, and your pestering me about it doesn’t help.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I just—”
    â€œJust stop,” I said, and got into my car. Before I started the engine, I saw him walking out with his sister beside him, her head down. I had the feeling he had been critical of her again. I thought the look on his face would stop a clock.
    How can anyone go through life so unhappy?
I wondered, but shook the thought out of my head and backed out. Whether it was reflexive or whether despite my determination something inside me continually drew me to look at him, I don’t know. But I looked into my rearview mirror tosee him walking to his car, and I did see him turn to look my