Miss Matched by Shawn K. Stout Read Free Book Online Page A

to the station about starting a meteorology club at your school,” he said. “He wants to learn more about the equipment we use here to produce some kind of news program.”
    Fiona stopped spinning. “What did you tell him?”
    â€œI told him that I think it’s a great idea.”
    She buried her face between her knees and squeezed her eyes shut. She remembered a movie on TV where Superman spun the earth in the opposite direction to turn back time so he could save Lois Lane. And so as fast as she could, shespun Turner in the opposite direction. To save herself from Milo Bridgewater.
    It was too bad she didn’t have any superpowers.
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    Loretta Gormley and Max were play ing a game of Fish on the living room floor when Fiona got home. “Give me all your kings,” said Loretta.
    â€œWhere’s Mrs. Miltenberger?” asked Fiona.
    Loretta said, “Bingo.”
    â€œGo fish,” said Max. “And I’m not talking to her.” He jabbed his finger in Fiona’s direction.
    â€œHe’s not talking to you,” Loretta told her.
    â€œWhat did I do?”
    Max turned away and Loretta shrugged.
    Fiona huffed. Some matchmaker she had turned out to be. She perched herself on the arm of the couch and watched the game.
    Loretta pulled her cell phone out of her jacket pocket and dialed. After a few moments with thephone to her ear, she sighed and then snapped it shut. “Do you guys want to go somewhere?”
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    The seats inside Loretta Gormley’s car had gray tape on them, and a cardboard tree hanging from the mirror made it smell like cinnamon spice. Fiona and Max rode in the backseat, and Loretta told them to be on the lookout for a cute boy with beautiful eyes. It was getting dark outside, which made it hard for Fiona’s eyeballs to see anything.
    Loretta pulled in front of Ordinary Java and parked. “Want some java?” she asked, as she turned off the car and opened the door.
    Java was coffee, Loretta explained. Which was very disappointing to Fiona because “java” sounded like “lava” but had nothing at all to do with a volcano. “I had a sip of coffee once,” Fiona told her, “but I spit it out because it tasted like earwax.”
    They went inside. “Why is it so dark in here?”Fiona asked. Ordinary Java had red walls with paintings on them, couches and coffee tables, rugs with fringes, and lamps with shades sort of like the ones in the Finkelstein’s living room. Teenagers were everywhere, and Fiona hoped that one day she would learn to like the taste of earwax so she could hang out at this place.
    â€œWait here,” said Loretta.
    Fiona watched as Loretta walked around and talked to other cool teenagers. Max pressed his face against the glass at the dessert counter.
    Loretta returned. “He’s not here,” she said. “Ready to go?”
    â€œWho’s not here?” asked Fiona.
    â€œJeremy,” said Loretta.
    Max bent the tentacles on his Squidman action figure. “Who is Jeremy?”
    â€œThat’s what I’m trying to figure out,” said Loretta. “Who is the real Jeremy?”
    Max and Fiona looked at each other. Fionashrugged. Teenagers were so mysterious.
    When they were back in the car, Loretta sighed. “He could learn a few things from Noah Wycroft. Why is it that boys on TV are so much more mature?”
    â€œI know Noah Wycroft,” said Fiona. “I mean, I’ve never met him or anything. But I know who he is.” He was a character on her mom’s TV show, Heartaches and Diamonds .
    â€œYeah. I’ve written him, like, a ton of times. I mean, I’ve written Oliver Piff, the actor who plays Noah. But he’s never written me back. Do you watch that show?”
    â€œSometimes,” said Fiona. “My mom plays Scarlet von Tussle.”
    â€œNo way!” said Loretta.