Read She Died Too Young for Free Online Page B

before in my life.”
    “It isn’t something you walk around talking about. There are kids at school who know the basic facts, but they have their own lives to live, so no one thinks about me and my problems. Besides, I’ve never wanted anyone gossiping about me.
    “It explains why Josh is so protective of you. There’s
you
, of course. But there’s also a piece of his brother living inside you.”
    “That’s true. So, now can you see how complicated things are between me and Josh? He means a lot to me. He’s given me so much.”
    Garrison sighed and stood. “Come on. Let’s go back to the library.”
    “I can’t think about the paper tonight,” she confessed.
    “Me either. We’ll get our stuff, and I’ll take you home.”
    The trip back to the library, the collection of their books, and the drive to Katie’s house was a long, silent journey. Katie could tell that Garrison was deep in thought, and for a while, she wondered if she’d done the right thing dumping her life story on him. She was feeling uneasy and a bit disloyal to Josh. But he shouldn’t have done what he did by confronting Garrison.
    When Garrison stopped his car at Katie’s house,she fumbled for the door handle. He caught her arm. “Wait.”
    Slowly, she turned toward him. He raised her chin with his forefinger. “I’m glad you told me what you did, Katie. I see now that your involvement with Josh is far more complex than most relationships. Of course, it’s up to you, but I’d rather you not tell Josh I said anything to you about his and my discussion in the gym. I know he won’t come after me, and there’s no reason for the two of you to have a fight over it.”
    She nodded, feeling her heart—Aaron’s heart—thudding in her chest. “W-we still have the paper to finish,” she said. “I want to complete it … regardless of Josh.”
    “All right.” Garrison smoothed her hair, ran his fingers through its thickness, and caught it in his palm. “I want you to think about something for me.”
    “What?”
    “I’ve only known you a short while, but I heard all you said tonight. I want you to think long and hard about your feelings for Josh.”
    “I love him,” she replied quickly.
    Garrison ran his thumb down the length of her jaw, making shivers race up her spine. “He saved your life,” Garrison said, as if she’d not spoken. “That’s a big debt, Katie. But I want you to consider what you really feel toward him. Is it love or gratitude?”
    *  *  *
    Chelsea picked up the Chance card and read, “ ‘Go directly to jail. Do not pass Go. Do not collect two hundred dollars.’ ’ She squealed and placed her Monopoly game piece in the block marked “Jail.”
    “What are you complaining about?” Jillian said. “I’m the one who’s broke. Look, I’ve just landed on Boardwalk, and I can’t even afford to buy it.”
    “That breaks my heart.”
    The two girls were sitting in the middle of Jillian’s huge bed, the Monopoly board spread out between them. A room service cart loaded with sodas, desserts, and snack foods stood by the bed. Chelsea picked up the dice, jiggled them in her hand, and studied them closely. “You know,” she remarked, “I don’t think I’ve ever played a game of Monopoly quite like this one. Houses made out of real silver, hotels made from gold, brass game pieces—are these dice some kind of gemstone?”
    “Garnets,” Jillian answered, shrugging her shoulders apologetically. “Daddy’s idea. He had the set specially made for me. He gets a little carried away sometimes, but he means well.”
    Chelsea laughed. “Seems like a nice way to get carried away.”
    “He’s always trying to make it up to me because I’m sick. Like he feels it’s his and Mama’s fault.”
    “How could it be?”
    “Bad genetics,” Jillian explained with another shrug. “Parents feel guilty sometimes. You know-responsible for the defects.”
    Jillian’s explanation gave Chelsea pause. Hadher