Chapters (93)
- Cover
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Sixty-Nine
- Seventy
- Seventy-One
- Seventy-Two
- Seventy-Three
- Seventy-Four
- Seventy-Five
- Seventy-Six
- Seventy-Seven
- Seventy-Eight
- Seventy-Nine
- Eighty
- Eighty-One
- Eighty-Two
- Eighty-Three
- Eighty-Four
- Eighty-Five
- Author’s Note
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- Books by Kelly Yang
- Back Ad
- About the Publisher
I chuckle and nod, though I don’t want to believe it. Mr. Connelly is not a dick.
“I’m sorry,” Zach says, putting an arm around me. He looks up at the red and gold rays in the sky and all the trailers parked beside us, and I lean against his shoulder. “I promise, one day, we’re both gonna get out of this godforsaken place.”
Twenty-Nine
Claire
Jay and his friends partied with us all night at Florence’s house. Jay stayed by my side, pouring me drinks. Every couple of hours, he asked me if I was hungry and wanted to get out of there and grab a bite. But I didn’t want to ditch my friends.
“Such a gentleman,” Jess said, leaning up against me as we waited for our Uber. Nancy and the other parachutes had already gone home. I could smell the sticky sweet alcohol on Jess as she whispered in my ear, “I think he likes you.”
I laughed. “I think you’re drunk.”
“That may be true too,” she said, stumbling.
My phone dinged. Speak of the devil. It’s a text from Jay.
You looked cute tonight. Text me so I know you got home safe.
I showed the text to Jess, who laughed into the velvet sky.
“I knew it!”
“He just wants to make sure I get home safe,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“Girl, he wants some late-night Snapsex!” Jess teased.
Yeah, well that’s not happening. Jess cozied up to me, and we both looked at the stars. In China, it’s so rare to see stars because of the pollution, but here they sparkle like diamonds.
Jess whispered softly, “Hey, Claire, I’m really happy for you.”
“About Jay you mean?” I asked. “Or my English class?”
“No, about your dad,” she said. “My old man would never come all the way over here to have dinner with me.”
Oh, Jess. I quickly reminded her my dad has a business thing.
She shook her head. “Still.”
As we waited for our Uber, I put my arm around Jess and hugged her close. She tucked her head in the nook between my shoulder and chin. I hoped she knew, I’ve got her. Even if her parents don’t, I’ve got her.
I didn’t return Jay’s text that night, or the next day. After what happened with Teddy, I think I’m going to lay off boys for a while. I remind myself I’m here for an education. I’m here to be the hero of my own journey—I don’t need some guy. And now that I finally got into the class I want, I’m not going to blow it.