Read Pivot Point for Free Online

with my stray ball.”
    “I thought you had perfect aim,” I remind him.
    He raises his glass slightly in a mocking toast. “I do.”
    Confused, I start to question him, but instead shake my head and successfully pull Laila away.
    “Holy crap. What was that all about?” she asks, when we’re out of earshot. “He likes you. In a big way.”
    “He does not. It’s Duke. He flirts with everyone. Besides, you heard him, he’s Bobby’s good friend. I’m sure man code applies.”
    “But you hate Bobby. It’s obvious he knows that and now wants to swoop in.”
    I stop by a speaker. The music is loud, and I yell, “Swoop in?”
    “Don’t you dare get sidetracked by my word choice. The boy likes you. You have to Search it. Find out if … I don’t know, find out if he asks you out or something.”
    “First of all, I can’t just ask the universe if Duke likes me. It doesn’t work that way. I have to be faced with a choice. There is no choice here. Second, even if I did get the opportunity to find out my future with Duke, I wouldn’t, because if it tells me I end up liking that guy then I’ll just kill myself now.”
    “That guy? That guy is Duke Rivers, Addie. What is wrong with you?”
    “He’s a player.” The song has ended and my words seem to echo in the new silence. My head whips around to Duke, and he holds my eyes for a single count, then looks away.
    Laila lowers her voice and leans toward me. “And maybe you can be the girl to help him change his ways.”
    I shake my head. I don’t want to argue about this. And I definitely don’t want to be that girl. Every other girl may go weak in the knees anytime Duke is around, but I don’t.
    The next song starts, and a group of people behind us cheer and start dancing.
    This is ridiculous. Even if I was interested, I didn’t get “fought over” or “handed off” or whatever this was. Laila is reading way too much into this.
    “I must be their charity case. The popular crowd is having ‘do a good deed’ month. Or maybe they’re having a bet or something. I see it in the movies all the time—two popular guys see who can get the average girl first.”
    Laila throws back her head and groans. “Seriously, who taught you to be so cynical? You’re gorgeous and smart. Who wouldn’t like you? Just relax a little and give the guy the benefit of the doubt.”
    “Hey, I’m still in my-parents-just-got-a-divorce mode. Remember? This is the time when I’m allowed to question all relationships, wonder if true love exists at all anymore, and swear to a life of celibacy.”
    “Are you trying to live out every cliché?”
    “Yes. If I’m forced to live through a divorce, it better be exactly like I’ve seen it play out in books and movies.” I start listing the characteristics on my fingers. “Teen’s parents fight over her through bribes, teen gets to be full of angst, teen’s friends feel sorry for her, teen trusts no one.…”
    “Except her best friend.”
    “Of course. And then teen’s parents realize they made a huge mistake and teen helps them get back together after she matures or has an ‘aha’ moment or something.” All five of my fingers are extended with my list, and I hold up my hand as if that reiterates my point.
    Laila laughs. “Have you seriously planned out how you’re going to deal with this divorce? What movies have you been watching, anyway, The Parent Trap ?”
    My chest tightens, and I try to ignore it. I glance over her shoulder to where some people are throwing rocks at the Compound wall, creating a ripple in the mountain illusion. “No. Lots of movies and books end that way. The plot point is obviously based on some sort of reality.”
    “Your parents aren’t getting back together. And you read entirely too much. It’s not good for your brain. I hereby ban you from all books.”
    I look down to hide my stinging eyes.
    “Oh no,” Laila says, her voice now serious. “You really thought your parents might get back