Free Landry in Like by Krysten Lindsay Hager Page B

the room, Mrs. Russell nodded to me. “She’s had a tough time of it, and you’ve been a good friend to her. We appreciate that.”
    It was then that I noticed Mr. Russell’s eyes were filling up. “She’s lucky to have you.”
    Oh wow, I had never made a grown man cry before. Mrs. Russell squeezed my arm and told me she was looking forward to seeing me tomorrow. Mom and I walked out to the parking lot.
    Mom put her hand on my shoulder. “Kid, I gotta say, you handled that better than I would have at your age. I could see myself taking one look at the casket, saying, ‘Nope,’ and running out. And I wouldn’t have known what to say to my friend either. When I lost my grandmother at your age—” Mom cleared her throat and sighed. “I spent the time hiding out in the back of the funeral home. I had gone to viewings before, but it’s not quite the same as seeing someone you care about.”
    â€œWhy do they do that? It seems weird.”
    â€œWell, it is a little weird. The idea is that people get to say a proper good-bye with seeing the person one final time. Personally, I can say good-bye while looking at a nice eight-by-ten glossy photograph just as easily,” she said.
    I laughed. “Me, too.”
    â€œI think we’ve earned a trip to Ignatowski’s Ice Cream Palace for some ice cream, don’t you?”
    â€œYes, and maybe this calls for a large sundae with extra whipped topping?” I asked.
    â€œAnd sprinkles.”
    â€œRainbow, not chocolate,” I said.
    â€œLet’s go.”

Chapter 12
    A ll day at school , I was worried about Ashanti having to deal with the funeral — the final good-bye. I noticed Halle staring at me during lunch, but she didn’t come over and say anything. Yasmin was talking with her hands and being super loud so all the boys would notice her.
    The girls came over to my locker as I was getting out my books to go home.
    â€œHave you talked to Ashanti?” Halle asked.
    â€œYeah, I talked to her last night.”
    â€œIs she okay?”
    I nodded and told her that I was going over there after school. Yasmin narrowed her eyes.
    â€œOkay, well, tell her I’ll text her later,” Halle said and they walked away.
    I got a weird feeling in my stomach about the way Yasmin had been looking at me. All I could think of was how India had been jealous of me becoming friends with Devon when they were besties first. India had even caused drama, and Devon stopped speaking to me a couple times because of it. I hoped these girls wouldn’t do anything like that. At least India had apologized and admitted she was scared of losing Devon, but I couldn’t imagine these girls apologizing about anything ever. Yasmin thrived on drama and getting attention, but would she actually try to come between me and Ashanti? I tried to shake off that thought as I walked to the bus line and gave the driver my note saying my mom gave me permission to get off at a different stop.
    â€œOkay, do you know which stop you need to get off at or do you need me to use the intercom when we arrive?” the driver asked as if I was some little kid. I mean, I think at fourteen I knew where I needed to be. As it was, having a permission slip was embarrassing but having her announce to the entire bus that this was my stop, like I was too stupid to know? Total humiliation.
    â€œUm, no. I’m good. I know where it is. Thank you though.”
    I got off at Ashanti’s stop, and there were a ton of cars by her house. I saw a lot of people going in and out of the house, and I didn’t know if I should ring the doorbell or just walk in like some of them were doing. One teenage boy was going in and stopped and stared at me.
    â€œYou one of Ashanti’s friends?” he asked.
    I nodded.
    â€œCome on in,” he said. “She’s in the kitchen.”
    I followed him in, and Ashanti got up to hug me as