Beastly by Alex Flinn Read Free Book Online Page A

of Boar’s Head ham. Would I start eating raw meat soon?
    By two thirty, I knew Dad wasn’t coming home. Was he trying to do anything to help me? But who’d believe him? What would he say: “Hey, my son’s been transformed into some kind of fairy tale beast”?
    By three, I’d come up with a backup plan. Unfortunately, it involved Sloane. I called her cell.
    “Why haven’t you called me?” Do I need to add, she whined?
    “I’m calling you now.”
    “But you were supposed to call me before now, over the weekend.” I pushed back my annoyance. I had to be nice to her. She was my best chance. She was always saying she loved me. So if she’d just kiss me, this could be over before Dad consulted with the first plastic surgeon. I realized it was crazy to believe that a kiss would change me, like believing in magic.
    But how could I not believe in magic now?
    “Baby, I’m sorry. I wasn’t feeling well. Actually, I think I was coming down with something Friday. That’s why I was in such a bad mood.” I coughed a few times.
    “You sure were.”
    Which pissed me off, but I said, “I know. I was a jerk, and I ruined everything, didn’t I?” I took a deep breath and said what I knew she wanted to hear. “And you looked so beautiful Friday. God, you were the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”
    She giggled. “Thanks, Kyle.”
    “Everyone was eating their hearts out, seeing me with you. I was so lucky.”
    “Yeah, me too. Listen, I’m in SoHo, shopping with Amber and Heywood. But I could come over after, maybe. Your dad’s not home, right?”
    I smiled. “Right. Put your ear real close to the phone. I want to tell you something, but I don’t want Amber and Heywood to hear.”
    She giggled again. “Okay. What?”
    “I love you, Sloane,” I whispered. “I love you so much…”
    “I love you too,” she said, giggling. “You never said it first before.”
    “You didn’t let me finish. I love you so much, I’d love you even if you weren’t so hot.”
    “Huh?”
    “It’s true. I’d love you even if you were ugly.” I heard Magda puttering around outside my door. I lowered my voice so she couldn’t hear me. “Wouldn’t you love me even if I was ugly?” Another giggle. “You could never be ugly, Kyle.”
    “But if I was. If I had, like, some huge zit on my nose, could you still love me?”
    “On your nose? You have a zit on your nose?”
    “It’s just a rhetorical question. Would you still love me?”
    “Sure. This is weird, Kyle. You’re being weird. I’ve gotta go.”
    “But you’ll come over, after you’re done?”
    “Sure. Yeah. But I have to leave now, Kyle.”
    “Okay. See you later.” As she hung up, I heard her, giggling higher, telling her friends, “He said he loved me.” It would all be right.
    It was six. I’d told Magda, through the door, that if Sloane came over, she should send her into my room. I was sitting on my bed, shades drawn, lights off except the closet light. Waiting. In the darkness, with any luck, Sloane might not even realize how I looked. I wore a pair of Dad’s old jeans, larger than my own, to cover me better, and a long-sleeved shirt. All I needed was one kiss. Love and a kiss, the witch had said. Then, it would be fine. I’d be my old beautiful self again, and this cosmic joke would be over.
    Finally, a knock came at the door.
    “Come in,” I said.
    She opened the door. I’d worked hard, cleaning up the shattered glass and paper. I had found the two petals and hidden them under the lamp on my dresser, so they wouldn’t get lost.
    “Why’s it so dark in here?” she said. “What, you don’t want me to see your zit?”
    “I wanted it to be romantic.” I patted a spot on the bed. I tried to keep my voice steady. “I wanted to make up for Friday. I love you so much, Sloane. I don’t want to do anything to lose you.”
    “Apology accepted.” She giggled.
    “That’s great.” Again, I patted the bed for her to sit. “Can we make