Free Famous by Jessica Burkhart Page B

open.
    â€œThank you,” I said. My voice was void of emotion. “That’s all I wanted to hear.”
    I spun away from him, ignoring his calls after me.

TWO FRIENDS GONE
    I HUNCHED AGAINST THE COLD as I walked to Hawthorne. I didn’t need to stick around and hear Taylor’s excuses about why he had dated my best friend. The simple truth from both of them was what I wanted. Now that I had it, there was no reason for me to be friends with either of them again.
    Back in my room, I slid off my shoes and plopped into my desk chair. Khloe was at her desk, lamp on, doing homework. She put down her purple pen and spun her chair to face me.
    â€œUm, did Taylor ditch you?” she asked. “That was awfully fast. Unless you’ve already disposed of his body and came back for my help concealing any and all evidence to save you from a life in an ugly orange jumpsuit behind bars.”
    I had to smile. Khloe was really trying to make me feel better.
    â€œHe’s still breathing,” I said. “He didn’t bail. I asked him for the straight-up truth, and he gave it to me. One sentence was all I needed to hear. After that, I left.”
    â€œI don’t know how you did that, but I’m proud of you,” Khloe said, spinning her chair in a circle. “I would have pushed him into the fountain—still might on your behalf—or yelled at him until midnight.”
    I took my books from my bag and lined them up on my desk. “Believe me, it’s not that I didn’t want to do those things. I screamed at him a little before he would tell me. But I’m exhausted. There’s no reason to ever talk to Taylor or Brielle again.”
    I opened my laptop and moved the wireless mouse to wake up the computer.
    â€œYou’re totally done, huh?” Khloe asked.
    â€œForever and totally done.”
    â€œGood for you, Lauren. We’re going to get you through this. I didn’t text or call anyone while you were gone. I figured it’s your business to tell people, and you can do that when you’re ready.”
    â€œI have someone to talk to, and then I’ll do homework to distract me,” I said.
    I pulled up instant messenger and logged on.
    â€œWho are you talking to?” Khloe asked.
    An icon was lit up, and the message “available” was next to her name.
    â€œAna,” I said.
    Khloe’s eyes widened as she brought the tip of her pen to her mouth. “Oh, no. I forgot all about Ana. Do you think she . . . knew ?”
    â€œI don’t know anything for sure anymore.” I shook my head. “Everything I thought about two of the people closest to me was wrong. I’m not just going to assume Ana didn’t know. I have to ask.”
    My palm sweated on the mouse. I hovered above Ana’s icon. Ana wouldn’t lie to me. I was either about to lose another best friend or keep one, all with one simple question.
    Before I could chicken out, I double-clicked on Ana’s name.
    LaurBell:
    Hi, Ana.
    AnaArtiste:
    Laur! Hey! I’m so glad ur online! *does a dorky excited dance in her seat*
    LaurBell:
    Yeah, I had some time and I wanted to talk 2 u.
    AnaArtiste:
    *scrambles 2 stay upright* I almost fell off my chair. You have time? Whoa. Did the Canterwood science lab explode or did all of your teachers get the flu or something? U never have free time.
    LaurBell:
    Sci bldg is still standing last time I checked. And I have hmwk, but I really needed to talk to you.
    AnaArtiste:
    *makes worried face* Is something wrong?
    I took a deep breath and wished a cup of Celestial Seasonings Tension Tamer tea would appear in front of me.
    â€œLaur?”
    I looked over my shoulder at Khloe. “Yeah?”
    â€œI know you’re super stressed right now. I can’t do anything, but if you want, I could make you a cup of tea.”
    â€œKhloe Kinsella, I think we’re psychically linked. I just thought about tea. That would