Crystal Falls, Heather Lawhun [best management books of all time .TXT] 📗

nodded and left. Rori stayed with me. I got bored quickly until a teacher yelled at us. I grinned, grabbed Rori’s hand, and ran. We ran towards the other stairs while the teacher chased after us. We ran into David and Adrian and they followed us out to the school parking lot. School would be out in like thirty seconds. Then right on cue, the bell rang.
“That was the best twenty minutes of my life.” Rori said sarcastically and rolling her eyes. I laughed.
“Well, it was better than sitting in class and watching a stupid movie, right?” She nodded grinning.
“You’re right about that.”
“Let’s go home before the teacher catches us.” David said. We nodded and we walked home.

Chapter 16

Having Rachelle around has really helped me a lot. It lets me know that my old life doesn’t have to be completely ignored. She is sweet and funny and, surprisingly, in love with David. I could tell the minute she walked in the door and she hasn’t stopped talking about him yet. I don’t mind because I can talk about Adrian with her and she’ll listen without complaining. She’s always been my best friend and it’s easy for me to see why. Even with distance between us, we have more in common with each other than anyone else we’ve ever met. But even with my best friend here, I can’t get Lizzie out of my head. We’ve been talking all week and are online friends now too but no matter how much I talk about my mom, she won’t talk about her scars. I know this might just take time, but time is something I don’t like. I always feel like I don’t have enough of it, like it’s ticking away, second by second, and I can’t fix her. “What’s wrong?” Rachelle asked me for about the millionth time. She knows something is bugging me but I can’t tell her about it. I keep telling myself I can’t tell her but something inside me says I should tell someone. Adrian telling had saved my life, but something tells me this is different. She needs support, not police intervention.
“It’s nothing” I tell Rachelle. I focus on keeping a smile on my face until it was time for me to go to work. Rachelle doesn’t much care for the dance studio so she usually hangs out with David while I work. It’s really pretty outside for the middle of summer. There is a nice breeze and I decide to walk to the studio. When I get there, I see Lily already in the studio practicing her dance. She was learning so quickly. I clapped when she finished and she ran up to me and gave me the world’s biggest hug.
“My daddy told me to give you this” she said, holding out an envelope. Inside was every penny of the money for Lily’s dance classes so far, plus this week’s, and a note. It was written on pink paper, letting her know that Lily had wrote if with her dad.
Rori,
Thank you so much for teaching me. I have had a lot of fun and would like to continue in your class. Daddy says I can as long as we can pay, and if we can’t, to talk to you.
Your friend,
Lily
I was so surprised by this little girl’s potential and didn’t even think of how I could have made her day every Friday by teaching her to dance. I still had a while before ht rest of the class would show up, so I decided to call Lizzie. The phone rang for so long I almost hung up. Then I heard a groggy “Hello?” It was a male voice and I could hear someone snoring in the background.
“Is Lizzie awake? If not, it’s fine.”
“Just a sec” he said in a bored voice. I heard him crawl back into bed and wake her up. Great. I told him not to and he did it anyways.
“Hello?” even just woke up she sounded happier than I heard her all school year.
“Hey” I said, now nervous. What if she thought I was checking up on her? “I hadn’t heard from you in a while and wanted to know if you could hang out tonight.”
“I’d love to, Rori, but Adam and I have plans. We can double date if you want.”
“Sounds like a plan” I said, happy to at least get to meet up with my friend. We said our goodbyes and hung up. I texted Adrian we were going on a double date and decided to work with Lily until the other kids show up. We are working on a fairy tale mash up ballet and we are almost ready, so I send home the recital flyers with the girls. Then I rushed home and got ready for the date. We decided to go bowling, so nothing too dressy. Rachelle and David were going to the movies and Emi was moping in her room about something, so we were all set for the night. When we get to the bowling alley, I am kind of surprised by Adam. He looks exactly like every guy your parents warn you to avoid, right down to the lip piercing and tattoos. He also was holding Lizzie’s arm a little too tight and she looked on the verge of tears. As I walked closer, I caught fragments of what he was saying.
“I said I wanted alone time and you drag me to a bowling alley! What is wrong with you?!” I didn’t like the situation at all so I figured I’d interrupt.
“Hi” I said, smiling brightly. “I’m Rori and this is Adrian” Adrian played along well, even distracting Adam long enough for me to talk to Lizzie. “What’s up?” I asked her.
“Not much.” She said, avoiding eye contact.
“I saw what he did” I mumbled to her and she looked scared.
“I don’t know what to do.” she whispered, starting to cry. “He used to be so nice and now that I moved in with him, he’s become aggressive and abusive. Gran kicked me out for dating him so I have nowhere else to stay.” I call Isaac and he says she can stay the night and talk to her Grandmother in the morning. We finish our game and start to leave with Lizzie following us.
“Where are you going?” Adam asked her.
“She wanted to stay the night with me” I told him, grabbing her hand protectively.
“No. we need to go home Liz.” He said, grabbing her other arm.
“Let her go” Adrian told Adam. He must have looked serious because he let go of her. We got in the car and drove home. Emi was still moping, but I was too exhausted to ask why. I gave Lizzie my bed and passed out on the couch in the basement.

Sorry I don't have a lot done for this book, but once again I have writer's block... But I hope to have more for the story soon.
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Publication Date: 11-01-2011

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