Free Ache for You (Trapped in Three Hill Book 1) by Nancy Beaudet Page A

totally Mal’s type: obviously pretty without loads of makeup and a smile that blinds, her cleavage on full display.
                  My body isn’t wonderfully curvaceous or anything, I’m kind of scrawny and average looking. Boring.
                  My hips are wide and full of potential for child baring.
                  Mal always liked girls from a size zero or a size three. Even though he kissed me and touched me, I still kept waiting for me to leave me. I never believed that he could love me.
                  “Hey, Casey,” Mal looks at the blonde with a dead gaze that kills me, well metaphorically speaking obviously.
                  Geeze. I roll my eyes.
                  “What you been doing?” Casey tucks her hands in the pocket of her red hoodie. It looks fuzzy and comfy. I cry a little on the inside. I miss shopping and being able to change. I miss sweat pants okay? Scratch that. I miss leggings. Oh God. I would kill for a pair of leggings.
                  “I’ve been busy,” chuckles Mal, scratching at his face. That shave did nothing.
                  The three of us have stopped walking. I’m still stalking.
                  “Oh yeah?” Casey takes a sip of the coffee that I didn’t realize she was holding. It smells somewhat minty. Suddenly I wonder what would be the harm in me doing something, I don’t know, A little creepy?
                  “Yeah,” Mal shrugs. He’s only wearing a hoodie and the skin around his ears is getting red. He doesn’t look angry, just annoyed.
                  Mal has never been overly friendly, he doesn’t have to be. He’s popular and good looking, girls fell into his arms easily. With girls like Casey he was usually just smooth enough to get his way.
                  He’d get what he wanted and leave. That was just his way. I stop listening to Casey because looking at her with jealously is a waste of time. She’s already winning while I rot away in a garden across from a lake.
                  “Do you mind?” I ask while reaching and concentrating, aiming for her hot coffee. It feels like forever since I’ve eaten or had anything to drink. That is such a strange feeling. I’m not hungry, but my throat is dry from aching.
                  I'm polite about it anyway. Sort of I think. Slowly skimming my fingers along the lipstick stained lid, I’m right next to her. My elbow hits her chin. She doesn’t feel it. She just keeps looking at him.
                  “I heard about your …. your friend. I saw the announcement in the paper. It sucks what happened.” Casey’s face looks genuinely sad. “Did she leave a note at least?”
                  She asks and that nagging guilt is back. I did this.
                  “Did she what?” My aching heart says. Mal’s face is no longer a careful mask. His eyes blaze with death. Anger. Hurt. I did this.
                  The pain in Mal’s voice, I did it. I caused it. I put it there, and I made a show out of it. I zoomed the camera in on his expression. Would having left a note or text have lessened this? I doubt it.
                  “What kind of question is that? Are you interested so that you’ll be the first to know what it said? Do you want to write it online where everyone can like and comment on it ? ” Mal demands. Casey is silent. I realize her coffee is hot chocolate that smells deliciously like mint. I stop trying to steal it.
                  “It’s not like that.” Casey starts to defend, but Mal cuts her off by simply raising his hand. I doubt that she fears him. Mal has never been a very gentle man, but he’s not one built of violence.
                  Still, Casey falls silent.
                  “Yes, it is.” Mal’s voice falls