Читать книгу No Stopping Her - Rebecca Elswick - Страница 6

CHAPTER 1

The word avarice floated from the chalkboard, swirled around the room, and became trapped in the dust motes dancing in the sunlight. Brittany Myerson sat with her head propped up by her right hand, pretending to pay attention. Her long blond hair hung next to her chin, hiding her face from the rest of the English class. She was trying to stay awake, she really was, but the teacher’s voice sounded like it was coming from far away when it asked, “Can someone give me a definition?”

“Avarice means greed,” Mason answered.

“Correct.”

“Wanting what someone else has like, ah, his car,” added Lance.

“Excellent.”

Like his car.

The sting of those three words snapped Brittany awake. She knew Lance was throwing that comment at her. She stole a look at him and there it was—that hateful smirk. And then the big jerk winked at her!

Like his car.

Brittany sat up straight and looked at the teacher at the front of the room. She didn’t have to turn around to see the sneers on the faces of her classmates. They felt like darts being thrown at her back, each one striking the bull’s-eye. Brittany felt heat creep up her neck and flood her face. She stared at the clock, willing the class to be over. This was her last class of the day, and she couldn’t wait to get out of there.

When the bell rang, Brittany escaped into the crowded hallway. It was the start of spring break, so she knew everyone would be in a hurry to leave. The hallway cleared fast, making it easy to hang around her locker and wait for the parking lot to empty. After Lance’s little stunt, she couldn’t deal with the looks and whispers from the drivers in the student parking lot. Besides, she was in no hurry. Facing a week at home made her stomach hurt.

Brittany slammed her locker door shut and looked around for her best friend, Annie. She had hoped Annie had gotten over their argument and decided to ride home with her, but the empty hallway told her that Annie was still mad. Her hateful words rang in Brittany’s ears. Spoiled! Selfish! She couldn’t believe her best friend had called her spoiled and selfish! Annie was supposed to be on her side, but she had gotten mad just because Brittany complained about the crappy car her father had bought for her. Her face flamed remembering Annie’s words: “So what if it’s not the one you want! At least you have a car!”

Not the one I wanted! Oh, no, it’s worse than that! Daddy knew I wanted a new VW Bug like the one Lance has, and what did he do?

Hot, angry tears blurred Brittany’s vision as she marched out to the parking lot. Her hand shook as she unlocked the door of her used car. It was the ugliest color of yellow she had ever seen in her whole life, and even though it had been cleaned inside and out, the dull gray interior always looked dirty. She had thought, even dreamed, about smashing it into a wall. Then he would be sorry!

Brittany tried to pinpoint when her father had begun to change. He had always promised he would buy her a car. For months before she got her driver’s license, they had sat together and looked at Volkswagens on the Internet, and not once did he say, “You’re not getting a VW Bug.” They had discussed convertibles versus sunroofs, leather seats or plush, automatic or manual transmission, and, of course, the color. Black was the only choice, as far as Brittany was concerned. Then last month, Lance Cooper got a new VW Bug for his birthday—a red convertible with black leather seats and tons of extras. He had taken her for a ride and let her babble on about when she would get hers. She had even promised to take him for a ride when she got her new Bug. Brittany felt her face burn with shame just thinking about it.