AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I realized too late Mr. Bell had been giving instructions during my musing, so I tried to catch up and pay attention.
“Everything you need to know about the current budget is right here,” he said, handing a folder to Carson. “Of course, any added donations you can get from local businesses would be great. You want to try to get the most bang for your buck. The Angel Tree will have tags for needy members of the community and for the residents of Lakeshore Nursing Home, but we also adopt five families and provide a full Christmas to them, which is what the food is for. You’ll be buying the kids presents, but also everything the families would want or need for Christmas dinner and breakfast—muffins, cookies, juice, coffee. There’s a suggested list in there.” He pointed toward the folder in Carson’s grubby paws, and I glared at him.
The second we exited his office, it was mine. No way was he getting control of this entire thing. I was more organized, the responsible one.
Mr. Bell cleared her throat, eyeing me as I stared a hole through him, then continued, “You have a week to prepare and start garnering donations, then the tree needs to go up. You’ll want to get the food for the families last, just before delivery on the twenty-second. I’ll touch base then, over the break. Any questions?”
I forced a smile. “No, sir.”
Mr. Bell glanced to Carson, who lazed back in his seat. “Nope. We’re good,” he answered.
“Good.” Mr. Bell steepled her hands on her desk. “I’m glad you two have agreed to work this thing out between you. I hope you’ll learn something from collaborating on this project, maybe make amends.”
Blah . . . Blah . . . Blah. . .
I shot to my feet. “May we be dismissed?”
Mr. Bell nodded and waved toward the door, so I hightailed it out of there. Once I was outside, I waited for Carson. The second he shut the office door behind him, I snatched the folder from his hand. “I’ll take that, thank you,” I said, opening it and skimming through the contents.
Carson folded his empty hand, then grinned. His teeth were so white it was abnormal.
Didn’t he ever frown?
“Looks like we got off easy,” he said.
Easy?Easy!I’d hardly call having to work with him from now until Christmas easy. But whatever. If it didn’t bother him, then it didn’t bother me. I was fine, cool as a cucumber.
“I’ll meet you at your house after school,” I said.
“Can’t. I have an afternoon session today. We have our first meet this weekend.”
I scowled. Of course I would have to work aroundhisschedule.
“But I could just stop by your place after,” he added.
“No!” I yelled, then I inhaled, calming myself. “I mean, I was going to hang with Ethan anyway, so I don’t mind coming to your house.” The last thing I needed was him showing up to my place and my parents having an epic throw-down.
I tipped my chin up. “How about seven? Does that suit your busy schedule?”
Carson pursed his lips like he was thinking it over, and I tried not to notice how full they were. The gesture did funny things to my insides.
“Sure. That works,” he drawled, then winked and brushed past me, bumping my shoulder in the process, and just when I was about to tell him,excuse you, he turned my way and saluted. “Seven it is,” he said.
I waited a moment, allowing the irritation to dissipate from my bloodstream like a drug, wondering how one person could be so infuriating. When I turned to stomp off in the other direction, I crashed into something solid.Oomph.
I stumbled back, then blinked up to see Ethan and nearly collapsed in relief. If there was one person I wanted to run into right now, it was my best friend.
His gray eyes went wide as the moon as he took in my face. “What the heck happened to you?”
Chapter 4
MIA
Ifrowned.“Yourbrotherhappened. I can’t believe the two of you came from the same womb. Are you sure you’re biologically related? Maybe your mother had an illicit affair she never told you about,” I said as I headed toward my locker. If I wanted to make it to Spanish on time, I’d better hurry.
“Uh, not likely,” Ethan called after me, and I knew it was true. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks were nothing short of the perfect couple. They were attached at the hip, real-life examples that true love existed, unlike my own parents and their toxic relationship.
“Why did you have to be born a year younger? It would be so much easier if you were the older one, then it would be you that I shared classes with, not the animal you call a brother.” I stopped at my locker and hurriedly turned the combination lock, then popped it open.
