Page 24 of Let's Pretend I'm Okay

I’m internally screaming at my innocent, gullible sister. Grabbing a book off the top shelf does not equal boyfriend material. “Did he say anything?”

She shakes her head. “But I have this feeling... if he knew me, he’d like me back.”

I rub my temples, trying to calm my headache. “I have three classes with him, and I don’t think he’s the guy for you.”

She pouts. “Only because he’ll never notice me.”

“No. Because he’s a jerk.”

She tilts her head and glares like it’ll change my mind. “He’s not. He’s misunderstood.”

I grimace, melting into the couch. “Please don’t tell me you’re an ‘I can fix him’ girl.”

“I don’t need to fix him. He’s quiet, like me, and I bet ifsomeone took the time to get to know him, he wouldn’t seem so scary.”

I cross my arms. “Or you’d end up on the missing-persons list.”

Her face gets serious, and she looks me directly in the eyes. “I’m serious. I know he’s a good person.”

“Then go talk to him. Gonoticehim.”

Her eyes dart away. “I can’t. I don’t want him to think I’m a stalker.”

“You are a stalker.”

She pushes me. “It would be awkward. I’m not the type of person who goes up to people like that, even with our friends. They always start out as your friends, and I get looped in because I’m your sister.”

What I’m hearing is she’s the kind of person who wants someone to notice her, not the other way around, only reaffirming the fact this boy is undeniably the wrong person for her.

I have to show her how awful he really is. I have to completely crush her fantasy, and then I can help her find someone that’ll actually treat her right.

CHAPTER SEVEN

DANIEL

There’s a timid knock at the door, one I’ve come to resent.

“Breakfast is ready,” Laura says.

I peel myself off my bed, eyes bloodshot from my lack of sleep. No matter how hard I try, I can never rest here.

It’s not my room.

I have a new backpack, one with padded straps and so many pockets I’ve lost count, but I reach for my beat-up messenger bag instead. I don’t need anything new or fancy. What I had before was fine.

I slip out of my room to see Laura waiting patiently in the hallway with a brown sack and a bagel.

“Here,” she says, holding it out.

I’ve skipped so many meals that now she’s resorted to surprise attacks. She puts the food in my hands, and before I have time to argue, Olive comes out of her room.

“Ah, I see the devil has risen,” she says, eyeing me with a smile.

“Olive, behave,” Laura replies.

I push past them and head for the front door. I don’t want to go to school, but it’s better than being stuck here where I’m expected to be grateful for them taking me in. I’m not oblivious to the reason they took me in. They felt guilty. They knew I had nowhere else to go.

“Wait for Olive,” Laura calls after me.

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