Echoes by Marissa Lete (best books for students to read txt) 📕

There’s a pause, and it stretches on just a little bit too long.

“It’s fine if you don’t want to, I just—” Maverick quickly starts to add.

“No!” my echo cuts him off. Another awkward pause. “I mean, yeah. Yes. I— I would like that.”

“Are you sure?” Maverick’s echo chuckles.

“Yes. I’m sure,” my voice replies firmly.

“Okay, then,” I can hear the smile in his voice. “What do you want to do?”

“Dinner sounds nice. I like ice cream, too.”

More laughter. “Okay, so ice cream, and maybe dinner on the side.”

“Sounds perfect to me,” my echo replies.

“Cool. Well, I gotta go. But I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll come by around 6?”

“6 works.”

“Sweet. I’ll see you then.”

“Cool,” I hear myself reply, then Maverick’s footsteps retreat. My car door opens, then closes, and the sound of the engine running drifts away. Again, I’m left standing there, all alone, confused by the echo. But this time, I’m not left clueless, wondering when I will hear an echo of Maverick again—or if it will even happen. This time I have a day and hour that I can expect it to happen, and somehow that helps me feel a little bit better.

Chapter 8

The following day drags on, and I find myself checking the clock every few minutes. The anticipation is almost as bad as if I was actually about to go on a first date with a guy. Maybe it is as bad. I wouldn’t know because I’ve never actually been on a date with a guy—at least one that I remember.

Lunchtime brings a much-needed distraction because Grace is in full-on planning mode.

“So we’re all gonna ride together to the dance on Saturday, right?” she asks Leo and me.

“I’m down,” Leo replies.

“I think I’m gonna drive myself,” I tell her.

She frowns. “You’re not gonna ditch last second, are you?”

I put my hands up. “I already bought the cat ears. I’m fully committed now.”

“I’m not even going to complain about your costume choice, because you actually sound like you might show, and that’s a first.” Grace grins. I shrug in response. “You have to let me do your hair and makeup.”

“I think I can handle a nose and a few whiskers myself,” I say, imagining Grace going all out just for a cat costume. I mean, no doubt she’d make me look good, but I’m not sure there’s a point when I’m not into the whole dating scene.

“Please?” she begs. “Or at least let me get ready at your house.”

I sigh. “Alright, you can come to my house. But no promises on whether I’ll let you touch my hair or face.”

“I’ll come prepared anyways,” she winks.

“I’m not really into the whole getting-ready-together thing, so maybe I can just come over when y’all are done and ride with one of you?” Leo asks.

“Sounds like a plan.”

After school, I try to kill some time by hanging out in the parking lot with Grace. I’m standing by her car waiting when I see her walking towards me with Andy by her side. They seem to be having a great conversation, laughing about something as they get closer. When Grace looks up and sees me standing there, she says something quick to Andy and then turns in my direction, leaving him behind.

“What’s that about?” I raise an eyebrow at her.

“Nothing. It’s whatever,” she shrugs it off, but I see through her lie. I decide not to press the issue, though, since I’m not sure if I really want to know about whatever is going on.

“I need something to do for the afternoon. Are you busy?”

Grace hesitates, glancing across the parking lot toward where Andy is walking. “A little.”

“You know, I still think you deserve better,” I tell her.

She makes a face; whether it’s anger or regret, I can’t tell.

“But it’s fine. I’ll find something else,” I add before she can reply. Then I wave goodbye and hop into my car.

For the rest of the afternoon, I can’t seem to do anything productive. Every time I sit down and try to do homework, I end up getting lost in thought and stop after a few minutes. I try cleaning my room, but I just end up pulling a bunch of junk out from the closet, laying it on the floor, and then leaving it because I can’t focus enough to sort through it. I’m pacing back and forth in my room by the time six o’clock rolls around. At 6:03, I’m waiting downstairs about to give up hope entirely when the doorbell rings, an echo from last year. I sigh, then wait.

A beat later, footsteps thump down the stairs and the door opens.

“Hi,” Maverick’s voice is smooth, warm.

“Hey,” I hear my echo reply.

“You ready?”

“I am. Where are we going?” I listen carefully now, knowing that this is my chance to figure out where the echo is going to end up. If I can figure out the destination, I’ll be able to go to it and then hopefully be able to listen for the echo of us there.

“It’s a surprise,” Maverick answers, that smile in his voice again. The sound of it makes me feel warm.

“Well alright then,” my echo replies, and I want to reach through time and shake her, demanding answers. This isn’t good. If I don’t know where we were going that night, I’ll have to try and guess the location, which leaves a lot of room for error. But I’m more determined than ever to figure out what’s going on, so I follow the echoes out the door and hop into my car. I roll my window down, hoping to be able to listen to the echo of the car’s engine and tires so that I can follow it. It works pretty