Allison Diepen - The Oracle Rebounds

“The Oracle of Dating is, without a doubt, the cutest book I’ve read so far this year, and a fantastic start to a new series!”

—Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf

“I absolutely ate up this light, amusing tale of romance and friendship…. Read it for a positive spin on girl friendship, for the spunky narrator, for some smoking sexual tension (hey, this is Harlequin, after all!) that doesn’t cross the line, and, of course, for a tale of first love.”

—Kinnelon Library Teen Blog

“The Oracle of Dating is a quick, fun read with a witty lead character.”

—The Lip Gloss Chronicles

“It’s fun, wonderfully lighthearted, and the whole Oracle element puts an entirely new twist on the typical young adult romance…it even gives some pretty insightful and useful dating advice.”

—Obsessed!

“An adorable read. It took me back to the best moments of high school, made me feel the romance and just took me out of life for a while.”

—My Reading Room

www.miraink.co.uk

For two special guys in my life, Jeremy and Nate.

And for cheering the Oracle on, a big thank-you to Mary-Theresa Hussey, Natashya Wilson and Elizabeth Mazer at Harlequin Teen, and my agent, Ashley Grayson.

What are the warning signs that your boyfriend is about to break up with you?

a) He’s avoiding your calls.

b) He keeps canceling on you.

c) You catch him getting cozy with another girl.

d) He spends more time with his friends than with you.

Correct answer? Any of the above. Warning signs vary. And if you’re really unlucky, there aren’t any.

Chapter one

Chapter two

Chapter three

Chapter four

Chapter five

Chapter six

Chapter seven

Chapter eight

Chapter nine

Chapter ten

Chapter eleven

Chapter twelve

Chapter thirteen

Chapter fourteen

Chapter fifteen

Happily ever after is meant to last forever, right? Well, my happily ever after lasts five months, three weeks and two days. Then Jared drops a bomb.

“I need to take a step back, Kayla. I have to figure some things out right now.”

I stop listening after the “step back” part. I feel like I’m sinking through the floor. Jared is the one, isn’t he? This can’t be happening.

He’s watching me. “You’re not saying anything.”

“I’m chewing my pizza so I don’t choke.”

“Oh.”

I swallow my food. Keep it together, I tell myself. Having a public meltdown will only make this worse. “What do you want me to say?”

“I don’t know. Just that you understand.”

“I don’t.”

I don’t and I don’t want to. Why can’t this be any other Saturday night at Colonnade Pizza? I must’ve misheard him. He can’t be breaking up with me…. God, he’s so beautiful, with his curly dark hair falling over his forehead, and his blue eyes so tortured. He’s talking again. “Ever since I didn’t get that scholarship to art school, I’ve had to think about what I’m going to do with my life.”

“I get that, but how does that lead to you dumping me?” And then it hits me. He must’ve met another girl. The familiarity between us, the ease of us knowing each other so well, no longer excites him. Before he can answer my question, I throw it out there. “Is there someone else?”

His eyes widen. “Didn’t you hear anything I said?”

“Of course I did. I’m just asking.”

“You’re the only girl and that’s the truth.” He sighs. “I’ve been too into you these past few months. I haven’t been focusing enough on my art. If I’d put more effort into my portfolio, I might’ve gotten that scholarship. I was counting on it, and now I’m not sure what I’ll do. This is an important time in my life and I’ve been spending more time thinking about you than my own future.”

He’s talking, talking, blah, blah, blah…

And all I’m hearing is that I’m being dumped.

“Kayla, are you okay?”

My eyes fill up. My throat is closing. I’m either discovering a new food allergy or having my heart broken. “I’m…surprised, that’s all.”

“I’m not saying this is permanent. I don’t know.”

I’ll wait for you, Jared. I’ll give you time. Whatever you need. But I can’t say it. Pride doesn’t let me. “You’re making a big mistake, don’t you see that? I’m not just going to wait around for you. It’s…insulting!”

He shrugs helplessly. That look in his eyes—it’s killing me. He looks sad, and I have a sneaking suspicion it’s for me.

Dumping me is one thing. Pitying me is another. He’s so crossed the line.

“Maybe it’s better if it is permanent,” I say, unable to keep the edge out of my voice. “Teen relationships only have a thirteen percent chance of being long-term anyway.”

“That’s the Oracle talking, not you.”

“Yeah, well, we’re one and the same. I’m going to move on, Jared. I’m not going to sit around waiting for you.”

He nods gravely. “I understand.”

I blink. Can he let me go just like that? After spending half a year with him, after telling him I love him, this is humiliating. Didn’t he promise to love me forever? What about that?

“I’m going.” I slide out of the booth.

He grabs my arm. “Kayla…”

“What? Do you have anything more to say?”

“I guess…not.” He lets go of my arm. He can’t even look at me anymore.

“Bye.” And I’m gone.

In the blink of an eye, everything is different. I ride the subway in a daze, torn between tears and hysterical laughter. It’s over. OVER.

As the Oracle of Dating, I should have seen this coming. Sure, Jared has been acting a little weird recently, but I thought that was because he didn’t get the scholarship to art school. I’d hated to see him so disappointed, and I’d done everything I could to cheer him up. He seemed to be feeling better the past few days, like he’d finally accepted it and turned a corner. Maybe the real reason his mood had improved was because he’d made the decision to send me to Dumpsville.

I remember reading in one of Mom’s relationship books that sometimes when people feel powerless in their lives, they dump their significant other because that’s one part of their lives they do have control over. Worse, sometimes they blame their partner for their problems. Maybe that’s what Jared is doing. “I’ve been too into you these past few months.” Aren’t you supposed to be into the person you’re dating?

Well, Jared, if I’d known it was a problem for you, I wouldn’t have been so damned fantastic!

Whatever, he made his decision. I have to move on. There are lots of cute guys around. It’s not like I haven’t noticed them. I have!

Half an hour later, I get home. I live on a quiet street in Midwood, Brooklyn, with big old trees that shed branches whenever there’s heavy rain or wind. I’ve lived in this old brownstone ever since I can remember. Dad left us the house when he and Mom divorced, though apparently he made Mom buy him out. Since my sister, Tracey, is ten years older than me and lives in Manhattan, it’s just me, Mom and my stepdad, a Swedish theologian named Erland.

Mom’s car is gone, which is good because I don’t feel like talking right now. I just want to go to my room and bawl. First I have to get past Erland, who’s in the living room watching PBS. I close the door quietly and creep toward the stairs.

“What are you doing home so early?”

Great. I go back into the living room. “Jared…” My chin quivers. “H-he b-broke up w-with me.”