Read Along Came Jordan for Free Online

because I wanted to be buddies?" Her pitying tone scraped on me like fingers over a cheese grater.
    I pressed my lips together and willed myself to stay quiet.
    "Let's call it a night," she said, and I thought I detected laughter in her voice.
    "Fine." I stretched down into the soft sheets. Lying in such luxury, I should've gone to sleep in an instant.
    But I didn't.

 
Chapter Four
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    I left early the next morning. I never did meet Laine's mom, which was a fat disappointment. I'd visualized a thin, vapid socialite with a long chiffon gown floating around the ballroom downstairs, and I wanted to know if I was right. Guess I'd never know.
    "Thanks, Laine, for the eye-opening stay," I said when Charles announced Mom's car.
    Laine pinched out an acid scowl. "If you need anything at school, ask me. I know everybody and everything. Remember what I told you about Jordan and me."
    "How could I forget?"
    "I'll see you Monday." And with those words, the sleepover was complete.
    I dashed to the car and jumped in. Mom whistled. "Wow, this is off our beaten path."
    "Yeah, I know. They've got a butler."
    "No way."
    "Truth," I said. "What's everyone doing at home?"
    "Sarah's watching TV and won't talk to anyone. Has she spoken with you, Emili? Is it her new teacher or her class? She won't say a word."
    "The kids hate her."
    "What? Hate Sarah? Not possible."
    "I know, but right now they do. I told her it'd get better."
    Mom slumped and lowered her head. The car swerved.
    "Mom, watch where you're going!"
    She jerked upright and yanked the steering wheel to the left. "I'm worried about her."
    I saw new creases around her eyes. "Things blow over. In another week, she'll be the belle of the ball, like she was at Bates."
    Mom chuckled. "She was a quite a belle, wasn't she?"
    "Yeah, she was." I laughed with her. Had I known we wouldn't laugh again together for a long time — especially about Sarah — I'd have drawn out the moment. But I hadn't know, so I changed the subject.
    "What's Dad doing?"
    "Nothing, as usual." Then she seemed to remember that she was talking to his daughter and corrected herself. "I mean, I believe he's reading."
    "He's not going to find another job, is he?"
    She pursed her lips, and her eyebrows scrunched like a wrinkled sheet. "He's trying, but no, I don't think so."
    I sighed and turned away, pressing my nose against the window.
    "Looks like you're making friends though." Her voice was hopeful.
    "Yeah," I said, but I kept my face plastered to the glass.
    ****
    I couldn't wait to get to school on Monday. Not because of class, but to get out of the house. The weekend passed like a funeral. Sarah continued her vow of silence. Between bouts of coughing, Dad banged around like a gorilla, doing chores and yelling at anyone who looked at him crosswise. Mom spent her time shooting heavy sighs at Dad like arrows.
    At first, I tried to help with the chores. I bantered about whatever foolishness came into my head. I used to get big laughs from everyone with my stupid jokes. This time, all I got was the evil eye. Finally, I gave up and shut myself in my room and started worrying — mostly about Sarah. Her reaction to changing schools seemed way out of proportion. Since when does a normally chatty kid clamp her lips shut?
    On Monday, I searched the hallway, and neither Sally nor Margo were there to greet me. A whispering worry danced in my mind. Were they mad because I'd spent the night with Laine? I couldn't afford to lose their friendship, or I'd be back to having no one.
    Bud from Environmental Club was waiting for me, though.
    "Emili, may I say again you're brilliant!" He waved his spiral notebooks at me, and his face lit up like a kindergartner digging in the class treasure chest. "LaShawna told me we got permission. We can auction ourselves off as servants as soon as possible. It's a go."
    "Great." Like usual, I found myself grinning in Bud's presence.
    "Naturally there will be some rules: no doing homework,