Free A Perfect Storm by Phoebe Rivers and Erin McGuire

about the get-together I had been uninvited to that would be happening the next night, and dwelling on the unfair fact that Mason hadn’t been one of the Harbor Isle kids transferred to my school. I thought about texting Lily to tell her what had happened with Jody moments after she’d walked away. But I didn’t. Lily would probably not go either, out of loyalty to me. And I wanted her to go. Because Calvin would be there. It was a perfect opportunity for her to see him in a relaxed setting. And also, I didn’t want to do anything to make things worse between Lily and Jody. I was beginning to think that maybe Lily’s gut feeling about Jody was right—that she wasn’t very nice after all—though I was really trying to keep an open mind.
    But contributing most to my glum mood was the fact that Duggan had not returned. I’d sat in the blue bedroom reading for almost two hours, hoping he would show up, but he didn’t. I was beginning to believe that he might never return. That I’d never get the message my mother had sent me.
    I was also confused about Mason. Why hadn’t he texted me in the past few days? Why was he the only one in his whole friend group that wasn’t attending Stellamar? Was he avoiding me?
    And then the next day, Friday, as I was approaching my locker in the morning hallway traffic, I practically ran into him. Mason.
    He was there. At Stellamar. Looking very student-like, with his backpack slung over one shoulder and his headphones clamped around his neck.
    I’m not sure which of us was more surprised to see the other one. We both stood there, staring at each other.
    Mason spoke first.
    â€œHey,” he said.
    â€œHey,” I said. I waited for him to explain.
    â€œGuess you’re surprised to see me, huh?”
    â€œUm, yeah. I thought you got shipped out somewhere else. Calvin told us Ocean Heights Middle School.”
    He nodded. “Yeah, that was the plan at first. But my mom pulled some strings. When we learned that Cal and a couple of my other friends were all coming here, she called the principal and asked her if I could be sent here. It took an extra day, but they made it happen.” He grinned a little sheepishly. “So here I am.”
    I could feel a dumb grin spreading across my face. I tried not to act too psyched. But I was.
    â€œMason? No way!” shrieked a voice behind me.
    I turned and saw Jody.
    Jody gave Mason a big hug. This alarmed me. The jealousy roiled around inside me, even though I told myself they were just friends. That she had a boyfriend in high school. But still. A gorgeous girl was hugging my crush.
    â€œSo you made it to Stellamar!” she squealed, clasping her hands and bouncing a little. “That is awe- some .”
    â€œYeah, well, I was just, ah, talking about it with Sara here,” said Mason.
    I appreciated that he was trying to include me inthe conversation. Jody kind of half nodded in my direction and then turned her attention back to Mason.
    â€œHey, listen, Mace,” she said.
    Mace?
    â€œI’m having a get-together at my house tonight to plan for the auction next week. Can you come over? Like, around seven? We’re ordering tons of takeout and stuff.”
    Mason glanced at me, and then at Jody. “Sure,” he said. “Sounds cool.”
    The bell rang. We all had to get to class.
    So Mason was definitely going to be at the get-together tonight. And I definitely was not going to be.
    I was thinking the day couldn’t get worse. And then it did.
    I was heading out of social studies class when I almost ran smack-dab into the gym teacher spirit.
    â€œCollins!” he said.
    I groaned inwardly.
    â€œI’ll walk with you,” he said, noticing that everyone was moving toward their next class. Without waiting for me to agree, he hitched up his polyester-looking gym pants and fell into step alongside me. Out of thecorner of my eye I noticed he was in a