Free Canary by Rachele Alpine Page A

death grip off of Luke. “Sorry to break up the party.”
    Ali allowed us to take her away, but she reached toward Luke as if begging him to grab on and keep her with him.
    â€œI give him five minutes until he’s shoving his tongue down someone else’s throat,” Jenna whispered to me. “That guy is repulsive.”
    The three of us made our way out the door, and a car was in fact sitting by the curb with its lights on and horn blasting. We opened the door and pushed Ali inside.
    â€œMom is going to shit when she sees you,” Jeff said.
    Ali fell into the passenger seat, oblivious to Jeff’s grumbles. She rested her chin on her chest, and by the time we turned out of the development, she was snoring softly.
    I leaned against the window and pressed my head to the cool glass, watching house after house, most tucked into the dark, everyone asleep. We drove farther and farther away from the party, and I ran a finger over my lips, remembering.

    www.allmytruths.com

    Today’s Truth:
    A moment can change everything.

    Smoky breath, meet sour beer.
    Chapped lips, meet glossy moistness.
    Exploring tongue, meet smooth teeth.
    Firm hands, meet sweaty palms.
    Bristly cheek, meet red-flamed blush.
    Jack, meet Kate.
    Kate, meet Jack.

    Posted By: Your Present Self
    [Saturday, September 21, 1:13 AM]

Chapter 15
    Monday morning I was in the kitchen eating breakfast when a car pulled in to the driveway. Giant arcs from the headlights cast shadows on the living room walls. I could see them from the kitchen, where I stirred soggy cereal in the bowl. Dad had left twenty minutes before, and Brett was banging around upstairs doing who knew what.
    Outside, two short beeps startled me and sent a neighbor’s dog into a barking fit.
    I crept to the door, pulling the ratty, faded blue robe I’d had since I was eleven around me. Peeking out of the corner of our curtain, I saw a large truck in the driveway, its motor sending up steam as it struggled with the crisp October morning. The headlights made it impossible to see who sat in the driver’s seat, but the truck was unmistakable.
    I closed my eyes. This couldn’t be happening. But there was no denying who was here; the red truck in my driveway was the very same one that had picked up Jack from the party.
    â€œKate,” a voice outside the door yelled.
    I dropped the curtain and slid to the ground, trying to hide.
    Jack was on my front porch.
    I stared down in horror at the robe I always wore in the morning. The one I wore only in front of family. The one Brett made fun of. The one stained with nail polish and an unidentified breakfast item that had hardened and refused to be scratched off. It had a giant hole in the back I’d jokingly patched with a scrap of Disney princess sheet I’d outgrown. A robe I’d never let anyone else see me in.
    Especially Jack.
    But I didn’t have time to run upstairs and grab something else. Jack was still knocking on my door and clearly wasn’t leaving anytime soon.
    I took a breath and turned the knob. “Hey,” I said, unable to hide my surprise. “What are you doing here?” The question sounded more accusatory than I meant it to.
    Jack seemed unfazed. He smiled slowly, as if he knew I’d been hiding behind the door, as if he’d caught me doing something secret. “I thought I’d give you a ride to school.”
    Like an idiot, I stared at him.
    â€œSince we go to the same place and all.” He smiled again, as if it was that easy, as if of course he would show up and take me to school.
    My heart pounded, and I thought about what it meant to have him here. I knew what was going on. This was a big deal. It was freaking amazing. Jack wasn’t here because he thought I needed a ride to school. Jack was standing at my door because he liked me. I felt light-headed.
    â€œUsually I go with Brett,” I said, stalling but not knowing why. Realizing he might not