Page 6 of Let's Pretend I'm Okay

I don’t understand how she can say this like it’s not the most earth-shattering plot twist of her life.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

She tilts her head away to hide her shy smile. “Because I knew you’d freak out. I knew you’d make a big deal out of it.”

Annie never leaves the house unless she has to, so I don’t understand what possessed her to get a job. “Why all of a sudden?”

She gets quiet.

If she wasn’t driving, I’d wrap my arms around her and shake the truth out of her, but unfortunately if I did that now, we’d crash. I settle for turning down the music. “Tell me.”

“Broken Sage is coming to Spokane,” she mumbles. “I want to go, but I know the tickets are going to be expensive.”

My heart swells. Annie is doing something outside of her comfort zone, and I want to tell the whole world. I contain myself, though. Barely.

She peeks over at me. “Why do you look like you’re about to cry?”

I pat her shoulder. “My Annie is growing up.”

I ask her questions about the job for the rest of our drive. I even make her practice answering interview questions because I’m determined to help her get this job any way I can. By the time we get to school, I think she’s about ready to eject me from the car.

As soon as we get out of the car, I loop my arm in hers and lead her—or drag her, if I’m being honest—into the building. The school is swarming with students. Most I recognize but there are a few I don’t. I assume they’re freshmen.

Cameryn comes running up to me, her dark curls bouncing in the air. “Margo, did you hear Tyler is looking for you?”

I shake my head. “Why?”

Her eyes widen, and she grabs my arm. “The watch was a dupe.”

“That’s not possible,” I say. Tyler paid me right before the end of school last year to find a limited edition watch as a gift for his dad. I did my best to verify it was real, but I also don’t know a lot about watches.

Annie crosses her arms and stares at me. “Still think doing business at school is a good idea?”

I’m good at fixing things, or at least I amusually. It’s what I’m known for at school. It’s my specialty. I’ve always had a knack for solving problems—figuring out what people need, finding the best sale on shoes in town, winning the games at the fair. If there’s a problem to be solved, I’m the girl to call.

“I’ll figure it out,” I say.

“Can’t you give him his money back?” Cameryn asks.

I cringe. “I don’t have it anymore.”

“You spent it already?”

Of course I spent it. It’s been almost three months, and I thought he was happy with the watch.

“Margo Blakely!” Tyler yells from the other side of the hallway.

“I’ll see you guys later!” I yell and take off running. I sprint past everyone filtering in through the main entrance and race outside. I don’t really have a plan, I’m just running. I’ll figure it out as I go. Hopefully, by the time he catches me, I’ll have a better excuse.

Within seconds my legs ache, pain shoots up my side, and I know I’m not going to be able to keep up this pace.

Once outside, I turn the corner and spot a boy around my age. He’s reading a book in the shadows. I’ve never seen himbefore, but he’s tall and dressed in black. He wears a scowl like an accessory.

“Hide me!” I grab on to him and push him in front of me.

Tyler bolts through the doors. “Margo, where are you?”

I didn’t realize a fake watch could make someone this angry, but his face is as red as a stoplight.

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