Authors: Constance C. Greene

Monday I Love You (16 page)

There's a little path at the end of Adams Lane, a footpath. Every time I walk down it, I think of the millions of feet that made that path. Probably since Colonial days feet have been treading that path. Maybe George Washington walked there. He's slept a lot of places, but no one ever took count, as far as I know, of paths he trod.

The person up ahead of me on the path was definitely not George Washington. Or even Martha. She had on shorts and an oversized sweatshirt and pink running shoes. Since I'd lost some weight, I bet I could wear shorts too. Next time I save a few bucks, maybe I'll buy some.

With a start, I realized the person ahead of me was Ashley. She was alone, a first for Ashley, who was never alone. She liked it better if she was surrounded by her minions. I'd only seen her from a distance a couple of times.

I felt myself swelling with rage and a more complicated emotionâthe desire for revenge. It was now or never. This was something I had to do to regain my self-respect. If I could. If I had the nerve. This moment had been handed to me. It would never come again. If I did nothing, just walked on by, leaving Ashley intact and unscathed, it was my fault. My cowardice. I felt at that moment my whole future depended on what I did now, what I said.

I took longer steps to catch up, and I prepared my face to meet Ashley's face.

“Hello, Ashley,” I said, right behind her.

She jumped, and when she saw me, her mouth tightened and she got flustered.

“I have to go back to get something,” she said, taking a step backward, swerving to avoid body contact with me.

I swerved with her, boldly. I had made up my mind. She would not get away. She would not escape what I had to say. There are moments in life when your adrenaline carries you through, allows you strength you ordinarily wouldn't have. This was one of those rare moments. I'd spent the four weeks since she went for me in the girls' room planning what I'd say if I ever got the chance. There was no stopping me now.

“There's something I want to say to you,” I said, quite calm.

Briefly her eyes met mine. I could see them darting wildly, swift as goldfish in a bowl. And as slippery.

“Don't bother me,” Ashley said haughtily.

“You are going to listen.” My voice sounded menacing and harsh, as if coming over a loudspeaker. At that moment, Ashley and I were the only two people in the world.

“Don't you touch me,” she said, although I hadn't made any move to do so. I was pleased to hear the tremble in her voice.

“You touched me,” I said.

There was nothing she could say to that.

I wanted to hit her, to wound her, to cause her pain.

“Now you're going to listen to me,” I told her. “It's my turn.”

In a rush, I realized
I
was in control, for once.
I
was calling the shots, not Ashley. I hadn't laid a finger on her, or raised my voice, but I was in charge.

I took a deep breath and locked her slippery eyes in mine and started in.

About the Author

Constance C. Greene is the author of over twenty highly successful young adult novels, including the ALA Notable Book
A Girl Called Al
,
Al(exandra) the Great, Getting Nowhere
, and
Beat the Turtle Drum
, which is an ALA Notable Book, an IRA-CBC Children's Choice, and the basis for the Emmy Awardâwinning after-school special
Very Good Friends
. Greene lives in Milford, Connecticut.

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover design by Connie Gabbert

ISBN: 978-1-5040-0351-3

This edition published in 2015 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.

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New York, NY 10014

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