A Girl Named Summer Read Online Free Page B

she considered her bleak future. There wasn’t any hope, she decided.What other fifteen-year-old girl stayed home all summer? Probably none. And this was the summer that she and Regina had vowed they would make some new friends and meet some really cute older guys. They had both agreed to turn over a new leaf, too, starting with their looks. Summer had decided that her wardrobe was entirely too juvenile, for one thing. The money she’d been planning to make at the Pizza Paddle would have enabled her to buy some really great clothes. Well, that was definitely out now. Mom and Dad couldn’t afford to pay her more than a few dollars a week for baby-sitting. It would take her most of the summer just to have enough to buy new jeans!
    “You’re going to be stuck here all summer?”
    Regina made it sound as if Summer had been sentenced to Siberia. Of course, taking care of Michael and her grandfather was probably just as bad, Summer thought, then immediately felt guilty.
    “But what about our plans?” Regina’s stubborn streak was asserting itself. She was just as disappointed as Summer, and that fact made Summer feel somewhat better. “You’ll never meet anyone if you don’t get out there and circulate. That’s what is so super about working at the Pizza Paddle. Everyone goes there on Friday nights. You know that!”
    “I know, I know,” Summer said. “But there isn’t anything I can do about it. I tried to talk to Dad, but when he started his ‘A Family Is a Team’ lecture, I knew it was a lost cause.”
    “Ann Logan is having a swim party next week,” Regina said, changing the subject.
    “Oh, how splendid.” Summer’s voice reeked with sarcasm.
Splendid
was one of Ann’s favorite words, and Ann was one of Summer’s least favorite persons.
    “Your claws are showing,” Regina said with a giggle. “Just because she stole Eric from you…”
    “Don’t start,” Summer demanded. “And she did not steal him from me. I never had him to begin with, remember? That was all in your mind.”
    Ann Logan was definitely a thorn in Summer’s side. As soon as Ann had found out Summer was interested in Eric, she’d moved right in. Eric was helpless before Ann’s practiced assault. He never stood a chance.
    “Do you think she uses something on her hair? It’s getting more and more streaked, I noticed.”
    “Who cares? She still looks like a Barbie doll with that plastic smile of hers. And the way she bats those lashes, you’d think she had a tic or something.”
    “Well, she has to be nice to me,” Regina said. “She still hasn’t given up on Gregg.”
    “How can your brother stand her? Honestly, Michael has a better vocabulary than she does, and she acts so…phony. I don’t think she can hold a serious thought for more than ten seconds.” The disgust was obvious in Summer’s voice.
    “Oh, all the boys like to have girls gush over them. That’s our problem, Summer. We just aren’t gushy enough. Anyway, I was invited to the party because of Gregg, that’s for sure. We both know she reallydoesn’t like me. She doesn’t like any girl, for that matter. Maybe I won’t go if you’re not invited.”
    “You have to go. This will be the perfect opportunity for you to meet some new boys. With Ann’s reputation to maintain, I’m sure there will be an abundance of—”
    “—gorgeous guys surrounding her,” Regina said. “We’re supposed to bring dates,” Regina added. “I guess I could ask Carl Benson. He’s tall enough. If only he didn’t tend to lisp…”
    “He does not lisp,” Summer argued. “And if he does, it’s because of his braces. Besides, once you get there, you can—”
    “—circulate,” Regina finished for her. “You’re right. I’ll ask Carl. I wish you were going though. I…Wait! I’ve got it! You can go with Gregg.”
    “Oh, I don’t know—”
    “He’ll do it,” Regina interrupted, a glint entering her brown eyes. “He owes me, Summer. I’ll tell him