Get Even by Gretchen McNeil Read Free Book Online Page B

“You were telling me how hot you think Amber is, and if I thought she’d dump Rex for you.”
    John stared at her for a second, blinking rapidly; then his body convulsed, once, twice. His hand flew to his mouth as he leaned over and made a fake puking sound.
    “Oops. Guess that wasn’t it after all.”
    John wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I said I can’t meet you at the Coffee Clash tonight.”
    “Pourquoi?”
    “Band practice.”
    Bree dropped Nietzsche to the ground. “Clearly, I’m hallucinating. I thought you said band practice. Clearly , you didn’t though. Because that would mean you’d finally auditioned for a band. And if you’d finally auditioned for a band, CLEARLY you would have told your best friend.”
    John smirked. “Band. Practice.”
    “Deets,” Bree said, snapping her fingers. “Stat.”
    John sighed. “Let me try a practice first, okay? They may think I suck balls and cut me loose.”
    “Doubtful.” John constantly downplayed his talent, but Bree knew how amazing he was with a bass in his hands.
    He nodded toward Shane. “If they keep me around, maybe I’ll be as famous as your boyfriend.”
    Bree scowled. “He’s not my boyfriend.”
    “True,” John said, with a cold gleam in his eyes. “But not for lack of trying. Maybe you should have gotten a large-print Nietzsche so he could actually see it from over there.”
    “Ha, ha.”
    “Or . . .” John pushed himself to his feet, surprisingly nimble for his gawky frame, and stuck his thumb and middle finger in his mouth, emitting a whistle that would have stopped traffic on Market Street at rush hour.
    “What are you doing?” Bree hissed.
    John ignored her. “Shane!” he called out, waving his arm over his head like a lunatic.
    “Oh my God!” Bree grabbed his pants leg and tried to pull him down before Shane noticed. Too late. To Bree’s horror, Shane returned John’s wave and trotted over to them.
    “I hate you so much right now,” Bree whispered, trying to control the blush rushing up from her chest. “So much.”
    “Bagsie,” Shane said. He held up his hand and John embraced him like an old friend. “We still on for rehearsal tonight?”

    John nodded. “I’ll be there.”
    “Sweet. Can’t wait to get you up to speed. We were blown away by your audition.”
    Bree blinked. Holy shit, did her best friend join Bangers and Mosh?

NINE
    OLIVIA KEPT HER DISTANCE AS SHE FOLLOWED MARGOT through pockets of lunching underclassmen, past the science building, to the courtyard outside the boys’ locker room. It was completely deserted except for one person.
    Ronny stood at a vending machine stocked with nonsugary waters and diet sodas and, much to Olivia’s eternal dismay, devoid of all candy or pastries deemed unhealthy by the administration.
    Margot slipped into an alcove behind the water fountain and left Olivia to it. Show time.
    “Looking for something?” Olivia asked.
    Ronny glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, then slowly turned. “Um, I . . . er . . .” His face flushed red as he tripped over his own tongue.
    “I know, it sucks.” Olivia leaned against the vending machine, stroking the glass with one pink fingernail. “F.U. won’t allow any junk food.” Olivia giggled as Ronny stared at her blankly. “Sorry, that’s what we call Father Uberti.”
    “Oh.”
    Olivia tilted her chin. “Are you new here?”
    Ronny nodded vigorously, his eyes fixed somewhere near Olivia’s cleavage.
    “I thought so!” Olivia batted her eyelashes. “I’d have remembered you.” She stepped closer, and Ronny dropped his backpack to the ground, instantly forgotten. Now all she had to do was lure him away from it for a few minutes. . . .
    “So,” Olivia said. “What’s your name?”
    “R-Ronny,” he stuttered.
    Olivia grabbed him by the hand and circled halfway around, spinning his body away from his backpack. “Ronny!” she squealed. “I love that name. I’m