If You Only Knew (9780698139541) Read online

  “I just . . .”

  The tears were pouring down my face. I didn’t even try to wipe them. “Fine!” I yelled. “So I won’t have any friends, if that’s what makes you happy!”

  I had to get away from her. I wanted to stomp up to my room, but we were already in my room. So I left my room and slammed the door. I stood in the hall, listening to the slam echo, thankful for the sudden silence. I’ve never yelled at my mother like that before. I don’t think I’ve ever said so many sentences in a row before.

  I stood there for a minute not knowing what to do. It was a sort of awkward situation. Even though I was still crying, I almost cracked a smile at the thought of Mom standing in the middle of my room, tilting her pretty head and biting her lip, not knowing what to do. Just like me, on the other side of the door. But then I realized she’d probably have to come out soon, and so I quickly slammed myself into the bathroom.

  Some cold water on my face felt good. I looked at myself in the mirror—pointy nose, dark circles under my green eyes, nonexistent lips, pulled-back frizzy brown hair—and got really depressed. I’m not beautiful like my mother. I look like a gerbil. Especially when my eye rims are red from crying. Tommy must be blind or stupid or into rodents. Yuck.

  After a few minutes I heard my door open. I locked the bathroom door, but Mom didn’t try to come in. I heard her footsteps on the stairs going down, and then her voice in the backyard with Dad and Paul. They were all laughing, having a great time as if I didn’t even matter.

  Every girl has her own story.

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  THE FRIENDSHIP RING series!

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  Rachel Vail—

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