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

“You’re so lucky!”
    Most people said the same thing about Fiona’s mom being an actress on TV. But Fiona couldn’t always share their excitement.
    â€œI thought Jeremy and I would be such a goodmatch,” said Loretta. “We’re in all the same clubs. And he was even talking about giving up eating meat. I thought he liked me.”
    Max leaned his head against the car window and began to snore. “Too bad Noah’s a made-up person,” said Fiona.
    â€œYeah, too bad.”
    â€œI wish I could help,” said Fiona. “But my matchmaking days are over.” It was another declaration.
    â€œHow come?”
    Fiona yawned. “I’m no good at it.” What if she wasn’t extraordinary at anything? What if she was going to be ordinary for the rest of her life?
    Then Loretta suddenly said, “There he is!” She pulled the car up to a basketball court across from Baker’s Square. “I’ll be right back.”
    Fiona watched from the window as Loretta marched right into the middle of the basketball game. Loretta waved her arms in the air at this Jeremy boy while the other basketballers watched.And that’s when Fiona saw Milo. He had his hands stuffed in his jeans pockets, and he was staring at Loretta and this boy.
    Fiona had something she wanted to say to Milo. And she didn’t want to wait until school to do it. She closed the car door gently so she wouldn’t wake up Max, and she headed straight for Milo. His eyes were on Loretta and the boy, so he didn’t see her until she was right in front of him. “Milo Bridgewater,” she said. He jumped back a little. “I think you should give up your meteorology club,” said Fiona.
    Milo must have been shocked by her declaration because he didn’t say anything.
    â€œDon’t you have anything to say?” asked Fiona.
    â€œYou know her?” he asked, pointing to Loretta.
    He sure was good at changing the subject. “Loretta’s my watcher. Anyway,” she said, “like I was saying, if you do give up your meteorology club, then I’ll give up my S.N.O.W.-slash-A.W.S.O.M.M. club. Deal?”
    For a gazillion years he didn’t say anything. And the only thing Fiona could think of to do next was shake his hand. But Fiona wasn’t an experienced hand shaker, and at the last minute, she couldn’t remember which hand you were supposed to shake with. So, she reached out with both of her hands toward Milo, grabbing his shoulders. Then she gave them a shake.

    Milo stepped backward. “No way,” he said as he knocked into his bike.
    By the look on his face, Fiona figured she must have looked real scary. Like a brain-eating zombie from one of those movies she was not allowed to watch but sometimes did anyway.
    Or worse, like she was trying to give him a hug. Boy, oh, boy, she hoped Milo didn’t think she was trying to hug him.
    As Milo got on his bike and pedaled down Augusta Street, Fiona didn’t know if he was saying “no way” to giving up his club or to a hug that she wasn’t trying to give him anyway. She didn’t want him to get the wrong idea, so she yelled after him, “It’s okay, Milo, I don’t like -like you!”

• Chapter 11 •

    F iona pressed her forehead into the frosted window of the school bus. OUTER SPACEY she wrote with her finger. Then she leaned forward and wrote SORRY CLEO and drew an unhappy face on the window of the seat in front of her.
    Cleo peered over the seat.
    â€œI’m sorry I matched you up with Max,” said Fiona.
    Cleo shrugged. “Are all little brothers like that?”
    â€œI’m pretty sure.”
    Cleo made a sour face. “I don’t think I’m ready for a little brother or sister.”
    â€œThey aren’t the worst thing,” said Fiona. “You get used to them. Sort of.”
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    When Fiona got to her