Free Finding Me by Dawn Brazil Page B

these matters.” Yeah. I should have known. “I can only warn you that in time…the very near future, in fact, they will come looking for you.”
    My eyes scanned the hallway for anyone who could be listening. I took a cautious step in her direction. “Who are they?” I asked, barely audible.
    “I cannot tell you that either, dear. I’m sorry.” Sure you are. “Please trust me and be extremely selective with whom you divulge any information about yourself.” She leaned forward and squeezed my hand, hesitating as if she were going to say more but reconsidered. She spun around and lumbered off down the hall toward her office without even a backward glance in my direction.
    I watched until she disappeared around a corner and then leaned on my locker for support. What was going on here? What I had called a nervous breakdown before paled in comparison to what I was feeling now about Ms. Graves’s carefully phrased speech. Or maybe Ms. Graves needed a psychiatrist. I wasn’t certain of much, but I knew one thing for sure: something wasn’t right. I swallowed back a lump the size of a small child in my throat. I didn’t know how to find out what was going on.
    Chris didn’t return to his locker as I’d hoped. I headed home even more confused than when I’d arrived. I passed Ms. Graves’s office on my way out and debated going in and talking to her. But she was with a student. I lingered outside her door, waiting for the right opportunity. Once I’d kicked the idea around some, I changed my mind. I didn’t want her vague responses to my questions. I needed real answers. I stomped off to meet Matt, who’d be upset because he had to wait for me. I sighed loudly. My day was hell.
    “CC,” Emily called from behind as I exited the front door of the school.
    I stood on the last step and waited for her. I was sure she didn’t have anything important to discuss, but I waited anyway. I even thought about suggesting a sleepover with her and Melissa. That way I wouldn’t be alone in my room for any real amount of time. I grimaced internally. I used to want them to stay over because I enjoyed their company. Not anymore.
    Finally, she caught up with me. She opened her mouth, and if I didn’t know how much she sucked at Spanish I’d have sworn she was speaking the language. All I could make out was “Zack”.
    “Slow down, Em. I can’t understand anything you’re saying.”
    She took a deep breath and started over, “I found out Casey and Zack were secretly…together.” She nodded her head and arched her eyebrows. “She’s been pretending all this time that she’s our friend. Look at what she was doing behind our backs. Can you believe she had the nerve to show up to your b-day party last year. She’s so manu fake tured. There’s no tellin’ how long it was goin’ on. You, me, and Tee should give her a proper beat down. What do you say?”
    Uh, oh. I should’ve told her about this. “I knew.”
    She sucked in a long breath. I allowed my gaze to fall haplessly to the ground. I knew she’d be pissed. I had to explain so she’d understand. “Zack and I weren’t working out long before Casey came along. We only dated because of my mother and his. It wasn’t what we wanted. He and Casey made a much better couple in my opinion. And technically, she didn’t do anything wrong to us, she did something wrong to me. You can still be friends with her, Em. This has nothing at all to do with your relationship with her.” At least it shouldn’t.
    “CC, you’re my best friend; it has everything to do with me. And Tee. Why are you keeping secrets? I can’t believe you.” She rolled her eyes so hard I knew they’d pop out and land on me. “Wait till I tell Tee! We’re your best friends. That’s info you share.” I knew she was right. What could I say? “I’m not talking to Casey again. It was skanky, no matter how you look at it. Plus, she’s going around tellin’ everybody you’re pretending to be