Read Pivotal Moments (In Time #1) for Free Online Page B

volume down.”
    Penny gave a cheery grin and waved. “Morning, Mrs. M!”
    Mom waved her off and shut the door, mumbling something about melodramatic teenagers.
    I groaned. “Who the hell even let you in?” I was going to kill whoever it was.
    “Your mom. She left a key for me,” Penny said in blasé tone. That was it. Connor and I were about to become orphans; the woman must die. She was evil. Penny smacked my foot. “Up! Out! Out of bed!”
    I scowled. She could be a bossy little brat when she had her mind set on something. Sighing in defeat, I said, “What am I doing?”
    “You’re gonna get up and take a shower. You’re gonna scrub yourself, shave, and moisturize. Then you’re gonna come out here, and you’re going to put on the swimsuit I brought for you.” She paused, pointed at me, and smirked. “Then we’re gonna go to the lake and knock your Teagan out so he won’t know what hit him.”
    “It doesn’t matter,” I muttered.
    Penny narrowed her eyes. “Why?”
    “Because I’ve been little sister zoned!”
    Penny cocked an eyebrow. “Come again?”
    “It’s obvious,” I said, throwing a hand in the air. “Connor has no problem with me being around him. And you know how he is.”
    Penny nodded reluctantly.
    “Not only that, but Teagan helped the dumbass talk me out of my room when I locked myself in. He made sure to tell me about his two younger sisters…” I sighed heavily, the back of my nose burning. “His tone and implications were clear. Besides, why would he be interested in me? He doesn’t need my help with his homework, and I’m just a nerd with nothing else to offer!” I swallowed back tears. Having my hopes build up only to get them torn to pieces was getting old, quick.
    Penny stared at me, jaw hanging open. She was silent for several moments before shaking her head, closing her mouth, and taking a deep breath. I knew what this meant; I was about to get a Penelope Anne Sutters talk. Probably Lecture #4—Aislinn needs some friggin’ self-esteem.
    Letting out a soft exhale, she walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. After gently tucking a few stray pieces of hair behind my ear, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around me. Then she sat back and grabbed one of my hands, giving it a squeeze. “Why did you ever let her get to you?”
    I frowned. “Who?”
    “That bitch. Tracey.”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I retorted. She’d hit a little too close to home; I’d never told anyone how many of Tracey’s words had hit deep and left scars.
    Penny snorted and frowned. “That’s a damn lie, Ash. You were never this insecure until last year when you started tutoring Brody in Civics.” She paused, thinking. “Yeah, it was right after you started working with him. Not a coincidence that she started screwing with you.”
    I shrugged. I didn’t care why Tracey was determined to destroy me, just that she was.
    Penny got up and paced across her room. “I bet Brody either hinted or outright said something about liking you. He had a thing for you in tenth grade.”
    At that I rolled my eyes. I loved this girl to death, but she was a hopeless romantic. There was nothing about me that could possibly threaten Tracey.
    “Penny, he has Tracey. I can’t compete with that!”
    She stopped pacing and stared at me. “Ash, how tall am I?”
    “You said you’re five-six.”
    She nodded. “You’re always saying how pretty you think I am. Do you know what size I am?”
    I shook my head.
    “I’m a 14.”
    I choked. “Bullshit!” There was no way. I continued to shake my head as she nodded. “Penny, I’m a size 14. I look nothing like you. I’m overweight and it shows.”
    She groaned. “Girl, you’re a friggin’ knockout. You’re thick, not fat, with Marilyn Monroe-type curves—the kind bitches like Tracey would die for and boys like Brody and Teagan want. Males with sense want meat, not bones like she has. Hell, I think the reason she’s so