Marianne Elizabeth Hammer (top young adult novels TXT) 📖

He let go quickly and moved back, like he’d suddenly decided that he wanted to leave.

Ben coughed and walked over to join Sally. He nodded at Patrick and held out his hand. “Ben.”

Patrick grabbed his hand and then froze. “Ben?” he said. He let go and took half a step back. “Um…”

Ben started laughing. “Yup,” he said, holding up his hands. “I’m the one. Sorry about that, man.”

Patrick stared. “Right,” he said, a bit tight-jawed. He turned his head to scan the Goth crowd again. Marianne swallowed her gum.

“Hi, there. Hi!” said Georgia, waving and bouncing over. “I’m Georgia.” She shrugged. “I’m the other one who kissed her at the beach.”

Patrick had been trying to smile, but he stopped. “What?”

“Uh…” Georgia glanced around. Sally was shaking her head. “She didn’t text you that one, yet?”

“No.” Patrick shook his head back and forth slowly. “No. She didn’t send that one, yet.”

Marianne tried not to moan after seeing that look on his face. He obviously thought she’d been kissing any number of random people, and he looked depressed, dazed. Is that how he looked every time he read one of the texts? That wasn’t even the worst one. What had she done to him? A minute ago, she’d only wanted a little more prep time. Now she wanted out. There was no way she could face him.

She had to go. To run. Marianne glanced to the side with her eyes, not daring to twitch yet. She was even scared to swallow lest he might see the movement. Maybe if she stepped around Todd and then ducked behind that kiosk… Breathe. Get ready. Marianne took one last look at Patrick and inhaled.

And it was like he heard it.

Patrick turned his head to look in her direction. She watched his eyes focus and saw the exact moment that he recognized her. He stared at her face. He glanced at her hair. Then at her dress. His lips parted slightly. Tense and watchful as they were, every single person present saw exactly what had happened. And the traitors just melted away, leaving Marianne alone and exposed ten feet from Patrick.

Um…

Marianne bit her lip and tried to smile. She laughed softly. “Didn’t recognize me, did you?”

Patrick didn’t move or give any indication that he had heard her at all.

Marianne straightened her back and took a step forward. “I, um…” She gestured down at her gown. “I dress like this sometimes. It was a secret I never told you.” Pause. “I lied to you about it.” Marianne became aware that she was nodding, though she didn’t know why. “I lied to you about a lot of things. Obviously.”

And Patrick still didn’t move. He may have clenched his jaw a little tighter, but it might have just been the light.

Good grief, could he not help her out even a little?

No, that was only fair. And if it was only fair that she do everything herself, then she might as well get started. Marianne took another step forward, taking tiny breaths. “Well, it’s a little early.” She checked a non-existent watch on her wrist and tried to increase the volume of her voice. “I’m a little nervous; I didn’t expect to be here so soon.”

She waited, but he didn’t speak.

“Also,” she said. “I certainly didn’t expect to have an audience for this.” Marianne glanced over at the crowd. She was hoping to see smiles and nods of encouragement in return, but they all looked scared. Patrick’s hostile demeanor wasn’t just her imagination then. She looked back at him, trying to stand up taller. “I just wanted the chance to tell you in person how…” Her eyes started burning and her heart was going a million miles a second, but she couldn’t stop now. This was it. “How sorry I am.”

No reaction.

“Um…” Marianne took a deep breath and forced a less dejected, more open expression onto her face, watching him closely for any sign that he was listening. Any sign at all. “I know that it probably doesn’t matter anymore, but I love you.” Marianne forced a smile, though she’d probably never been less happy in her life. “I love you in the right way now.”

Patrick stared back at her, still expressionless. Then he nodded. That’s it.

Marianne nodded back. He’d given his answer, and it was no. “Okay,” she said, looking away at the crowd again. Georgia looked about to cry. Sally was staring intently at her shoes. “That’s fine,” mumbled Marianne. “It’s fair.” She looked back at him.

Patrick was a few steps closer to her than before. His mouth was open like he wanted to speak but didn’t know what to say. Understandable. Seriously, what do you say to a girl who just can’t take a hint?

She looked down at the ground to gather herself. What now? Changing the subject seemed to be the only option. “Well, anyway…” Marianne lifted a hand toward him, trying to look polite, trying to look as if she wasn’t bleeding internally. “What about you? I mean, you got a new place right?” She sighed for effect. “How have you been?”

Patrick lost his dazed look. “How have I been?” he said. As it turned out, Marianne really had been imagining that hint of anger on Patrick’s face. He had only been confused and speechless before. Now he was angry. “How have I been?” he said louder.

Marianne took a tiny step back. She heard Ivan mutter, “Uh-oh.”

Patrick looked like he’d never been asked a more offensive question. “How the hell do you think I’ve been, Marianne?”

“Um…” Marianne started ringing her pinkie finger and glanced around for help, but no one gave it. She looked back at him. “Good?”

He gaped at her. “No.”

“So…” Marianne swallowed. “You’ve been upset, then.”

He shook his head, jaw muscles twitching.

“Angry?” she said.

Patrick kept shaking his head.

Marianne had nothing else. “I… I don’t know then.” She shrugged.

Patrick looked down at the ground and rubbed the back of his neck. He looked up at her, and he looked sad. “How have you been,