Caught in the Web by Laura Dower Read Free Book Online

would never miss a sleepover. It’s really nice of you to have us over, Mrs. Waters. Thank you.”
    “I can’t wait,” Madison said. “Hope it’s not a dark and stormy night or anything like that.”
    “Like today!” Mrs. Waters laughed.
    Madison looked upward and drops pelted down onto her face. She stuck out her tongue and swallowed a little bit of rain, cool and warm at the same time.
    “Why don’t I give you girls a ride home?” Mrs. Waters said, trying in vain to hold her umbrella out over Madison and Aimee. The rain was coming down harder now. Everyone ran to the Waterses’ minivan.
    Madison saw Hart again as she was running, but he didn’t see her. Actually, she saw Egg and Drew standing there, too, but she didn’t wave like she’d done with Fiona earlier in the afternoon. One non-returned wave was enough for one day. It would be twice as mortifying if Hart was the one who didn’t wave back.
    “Race ya!” Aimee said to Fiona as they approached the minivan. She leaped over a puddle gracefully, as only a dancer could.
    “Last one there is a rotten—” Fiona was already halfway to the car.
    Madison stayed back and walked more slowly alongside Mrs. Waters. She was afraid that if she ran, she might fall and land right on her wet behind, right in the middle of the deepest puddle.
    Madison didn’t want to risk any more embarrassing episodes around Hart Jones—or anyone else.
    After a Chinese takeout dinner with Mom, Madison logged on to TweenBlurt.com home page. The writing contest deadline was fast approaching, and she needed to get some work done on her story. If only she had some ideas.
Enter the Caught in the Web Contest TODAY!
    First Prize: Your Story on the Web plus a mystery game (valued at $25)!
    The site flashed brighter and faster than she’d remembered. Fortunately the contest deadline had been extended by a couple of days. That made her breathe easier. It gave her more time to make her story scary. She needed all the time she could get.
    While online, her Insta-Message box blinked. It was Bigwheels!
    They met in GOFISHY, their favorite chat room.
: Ur online!
    : Didja get my EMSG?
    : Y
    : ggg
    : Howz dance comitee
    : committee (sorry)
    : ok. SHE’S still around but whatever
    : who?
    : IVY MY ENEMY
    : IC
    : :>(
    : Howz Hart?
    : He’s :-9
    : I wish I had a BF
    : Wait a minute, he’s NO
    WAY my BF
    : N e way, I have to forget him, I think my chances are like NONE
    : Don’t say that! I’ve never met you F2F but I bet ur cool and pretty
    : Whatever—he likes HER I know
    : Other fish in the sea then
    : Like on TweenBlurt? LOL
    : ;-]
    : Are you entering that contest on the home page of this site
    : Huh?
    : CAUGHT IN THE WEB
    : No u asked me that already
    : Oh I am
    : What’s ur story gonna be? I can’t write stories only poems I think should I write a poem?
    : I want to write something scary
    : Why don’t you write about that GIRL who’s ur enemy @ school she sounds scary
    : Good idea!!! Or I could write about my life … LOL
    : Yeah IMO real life is the scariest thing
    : :-0
    : Good nite
    : Sleep tight!
    : *poof*

Chapter 6
    “Y OU WANT GRAVY ON that?” the lunch lady, Gilda Z, asked, ladle in one hand and giant fork in the other.
    Madison stared down at her tray. Was this mystery meat moving?
    Gilda slopped on gravy. Most landed on the tray, not the plate. “Next!” she cried.
    Madison moved along. She peered over her shoulder and saw Hart standing a few kids back. He was peeling a banana. For a split second, she pretended not to notice him. But it was too late.
    “Hey, Finnster!” he called out. He’d spotted her. Even though she