Everybody Bugs Out by Leslie Margolis Read Free Book Online Page A

since then, just going into class kind of freaks me out.”
    â€œI can see why.”
    â€œWhat’s your elective?” he asked.
    â€œChorus,” I said.
    â€œI should’ve signed up for that. Probably much less chance of getting injured.”
    â€œYou’d think, but Jeff Diamond fell off a table and sprained his ankle last week.”
    â€œWhy was he on the table?” asked Oliver.
    â€œWhy do boys do anything?” I asked before I remembered whom I was talking to. “Um, no offense.”
    Turns out Emma was right about her “no offense” theory. I just hoped Oliver didn’t know about it.
    Lucky for me he just laughed and said, “No worries. But I think we’re onto something. Maybe we should do a statistical analysis of the dangers of electives at Birchwood Middle School.”
    â€œIt’s not the worst idea you’ve had,” I said.
    â€œGee, thanks,” he said, all sarcastic. “Oh—I forgot to tell you. I picked up a couple of books on science fair projects at the school library.”
    I grinned. “I tried to do the same at lunch but everything was already checked out.”
    â€œGuess I beat you to it. Good thing you’re on my team.”
    â€œOh, it’s your team?” I asked, jokingly.
    â€œYup,” said Oliver.
    â€œFind anything good?”
    â€œI haven’t actually looked yet,” Oliver said, stopping in front of a large house. Tobias sat under one of the palm trees out front, with his bike at his side.
    â€œTook you long enough,” he said, standing up and brushing the dirt off his jeans.
    Oliver walked up the path to the front door and we both followed him. Once inside he called, “I’m home!”
    Then a tall, skinny woman with dark skin and long braids walked into the entryway. She and Oliver had the same bright smile and similar accents, too.
    â€œHey, Mum,” said Oliver.
    â€œHi, dear.” She bent down to give him a kiss on the cheek and he didn’t even seem that embarrassed about it.
    â€œYou have impeccable timing. I just got back from the grocery store.”
    â€œCool.” Oliver shrugged off his backpack and dropped it by the door.
    â€œHello, Tobias,” said Oliver’s mom.
    â€œHi.” Tobias waved.
    â€œAnd you must be Annabelle,” she said, smiling down at me. “I’m Clarice. And I know you three have lots of work to do, so go ahead and get started and I’ll fix you a snack.”
    Tobias and I followed Oliver to the den, which had all sorts of cool stuff—a gigantic flat-screen TV with a video game console, and train tracks for an electric railroad circling the entire room. I kind of wanted to see it in action but didn’t want to ask. I was hoping Tobias would, but instead he picked up a mini Nerf basketball off the floor and tossed it at the hoop that hung on the other side of the room.
    â€œNice try,” said Oliver as the shot bounced off the rim.
    Oliver picked up the ball and swished it through the net, one handed. Then he raised his arms above his head and yelled “Victory!” Like he’d just been named the world-champion of Nerf basketball.
    â€œDude, that was a total lucky shot,” said Tobias.
    â€œSays you,” said Oliver.
    Tobias smirked and threw Oliver the ball. “Let’s try for the best out of five,” he said.
    â€œFine.” Oliver caught the ball and immediately tossed it to me. “You go first, Annabelle.”
    Neither boy said anything when I shot and missed. Something I appreciated. But it still felt embarrassing. Problem was, I overshot because I wasn’t used to the weight—or lack thereof—of the ball. But there was no point in making excuses. I tossed the ball to Tobias, who made the shot, and then he gave it to Oliver, who missed.
    Luckily I made the next one and two more. Tobias and I tied and Oliver beat us both. Not surprising, since the