Page 30 of Let's Pretend I'm Okay

“Cameryn said you had some questions on your English homework,” he says, looking directly at me.

I glance at Cameryn, and she shrugs.

“Right,” I say. “Are you good at English?”

“I’m not half bad,” he says.

Maybe he isn’t a bad choice for Annie. They can bond over this.

Forget English homework, I’m going to ask him the important questions. “Do you like to read?”

“What?” He raises an eyebrow.

I take a bite. “Do you?”

“I guess so.”

“Did you hear that, Annie? He likes to read,” I say.

Annie glares at me from behind her book. “You better get started on that homework.” She stands up. “I need to go to the library. I’ll see you later.”

Once she leaves, Cameryn leans in. “Hypothetically, that didn’t go well.”

Tell me about it.

I spent all night long trying to figure out what to do. I want Daniel to somehow show Annie his true colors, but to do that, I need him to spend time with her. But talking to her once might not be enough. I need him to take her on the worst date of her life. If that happens, she won’t be able to deny how awful he is. I know getting Daniel to do anything is going to be hard. If I ask him to go talk to Annie, he’ll say no. He has no reason to help me.

I have to do something for him. Something big enough it’ll give me leverage when I ask him to take Annie out. My time is precious, and I’m not about to waste any of it. I can’t help Annie until she sees Daniel for all that he is—an overgrown man-child with anger issues.

My feet hit the floor, patting around until they come across my slippers. I slip into my fluffy pink bunny slippers, which immediately make me feel five percent better.

Then, I walk across the floor to the curtains and pull them open. “Rise and shine.”

Annie groans from the other side of the room. “I don’t need to get up.”

“Yes, you do. You have to get ready for school. I need to get there early.”

“I’m already ready,” she says.

I pull back her sheets, revealing she went to bed in her outfit for the day.

“Pajamas are way more comfortable,” I say. “You should try them sometime.”

She grabs the sheets and covers herself back up. “Sleeping is better.”

“No, no, no,” I say, trying to stop her. “You should at least do your hair.”

“I’ll throw it in a braid.”

“You want to fall in love, but you won’t even try to dress up and put yourself out there?”

“I didn’t say I wanted to fall in love today. The universe is telling me I need more beauty sleep.”

“Fine.” I walk over to her backpack and take out her favorite book. “This spine is so nice and unbroken. I wonder what would happen if I cracked it—”

“Don’t you dare!” she says, jumping out of bed.

I laugh, running away from her.

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