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

She gives me a sheepish grin. “I think we’re getting back together.”

“Oh really? I never would have guessed, with the mouth on mouth action and all.”

“What’s your problem?” Grace bristles.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the fact that you completely ditched me today, instead of coming over like we planned?”

“I didn’t mean to—”

“And for what? So you could go screw around with your ex-boyfriend?” I burst.

Grace looks taken aback for a moment, but then she shakes her head. “It had nothing to do with Andy. I promise. Please, I’m really sorry. It took me forever to create this look.”

“Which you said you were going to do at my house.”

“Look, I’m really sorry. I screwed up. Please forgive me?”

I take in a deep breath. Then let it out. “Fine. But I want details. What’s up with you and Andy?”

Grace grins. “He’s been so sweet to me lately. And earlier he pulled me aside and said he couldn’t stand to live without me anymore. He was practically begging, Laura. And I’ve just been so miserable without him.”

Leo scoffs from beside us. Grace pointedly ignores him.

“But hey, listen. I need a favor,” she continues. “Andy wants me to go with him to this after-party with some of his friends. I really want to go, but my mom wants me to come home after the dance. But if I tell her I’m staying the night at your place, she won’t worry if I’m out a little extra late…”

I blink, realizing what she’s asking.

“I’ll come to your house right after the party’s over. I promise.”

I think about it for a minute, but only one thought keeps popping into my mind. I’d heard some kids talking about it at school. “You’re not planning on going to Jet’s Warehouse, are you?”

Jet’s Warehouse is an old, abandoned warehouse at the edge of town. It’s part of an old industrial park that hasn’t been used in years. It’s a popular spot for parties because it’s tucked deep into a pocket of woods, and, according to Andy, there are lots of places to hide if the cops show up. But it’s dangerous. And illegal. I’ve heard rumors about kids going up to the second floor and almost falling through the rotting floorboards. One guy got a concussion from a wall caving in on him. I’ve even heard about close encounters with bears since it’s so close to the base of the mountains just outside of town.

“No,” Grace tries to deny it, but I know a lie when I see one.

“You’ve heard of the things that have happened there, haven’t you?”

“I’m aware of the rumors.” I can almost see the frustration building in her. “But I’m not stupid. You know that. And it’s not like anyone has died or anything. I’m going to be perfectly safe, I promise.”

“I still don’t think it’s a good—”

“I don’t need you to judge my decisions right now, Laura. I just need you to cover for me, as my best friend.”

I can tell she is getting desperate. But I shake my head. “I can’t just do that. What if something happens to you? It’s dangerous out there.”

“Dangerous?” Grace looks outraged. “What do you know about dangerous? Miss stay-at-home-and- never-have-any-fun wants to tell me about dangerous?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” My voice raises unintentionally.

“It means you’re a party pooper, Laura. It means I’m sick and tired of you dragging me down. I want to go out and party. Have fun. And your idea of fun is sitting in your parents’ living room watching a lame movie once a week. I can’t do this anymore.”

Her words hit me like a slap in the face. I open my mouth, hoping to come up with a retort that might sting just as bad for Grace, but all that comes out is a pathetic, “I thought you liked our movie nights.”

Grace sighs, rolling her eyes. “Seriously, Laura?”

“I—” I begin, but Grace puts a hand up, stopping me.

“You never want to do anything with me. Not school dances, not the mall, not even a movie, Laura. Literally all you have to do is sit there and eat popcorn! And you can’t even pretend like you want to do that!”

The words are like a thousand little pinpricks, stabbing me into silence.

“What is it? Do you hate being seen with me, or something?”

I want to grab her by the shoulders, shake her, and scream, “No!” I want to open my mouth and tell her everything—how I hear the echoes, how it makes everything so loud and overwhelming, how it isn’t her at all, it’s me and this stupid, uncontrollable problem I’m trying my best to deal with.

But I don’t. I just stand there, my mouth hanging open like the terrible friend that I am.

Grace drops her gaze, disappointed. “Forget it, Laura. I’m just… I’m done. I’m going out with Andy, and I don’t care if you tell me it’s stupid. I love him, and there’s nothing you can do to change that. Don’t worry about covering for me. I’ll figure it out on my own.” When the words are out, she turns on her heel and marches into the building, the door slamming shut behind her. I watch her through the window, linking arms with Andy as I’m left there, my heavy breathing leaving clouds of mist and the cold air stinging my cheeks.

Leo is the first to move. “I’m going to follow them. I’ll make sure nothing happens,” he says, the determination in his voice surprising me.

“You…are?” I blink. Leo isn’t exactly well-liked by Andy and his friends, so going to the party would mean facing a plethora of ridicule. They might not even let him in.

Leo looks as if he’s surprised by his statement, too. “Yeah, I am. I just…