Revenge Of A Band Geek Gone Bad by Naomi Rabinowitz Read Free Book Online Page B

crush on him."
    "Maybe," I said, smiling.
    Lana jumped up and down.  "That's great!  Crushes are fun.  And I can tell you, it's nice when you have someone to think about in a boring class."
    Just then, Ken walked by, his arm around Dani , who he’d recently started dating.  They made quite the All-American pair; the blonde football player and his blonde cheerleader girlfriend.  "Hey, Mel, " Ken said, as he passed by, ignoring Lana.  "Nice job in band."   Dani didn't say anything; she just crinkled her nose at us and chewed loudly on a piece of gum.
    "Uh, hi," I said.  "Thanks."
    Once they were out of sight, Lana stuck her head in my locker and moaned.  "I hate him.  I hate that stupid dick-face and his stupid beyotch of his girlfriend."  She crossed her arms.  "Did you see the look she gave me?  And can you believe he had the nerve to ignore me?  What a pig!"
    "Oh yeah," I said, closing my locker.  "Getting involved with guys is real fun."
    ###
    Later at band, I found Josh waiting for me in the music locker room.  He was wearing a black Billy Joel T-shirt and was leaning against the lockers as if he didn't have a care in the world.  "What are you doing this weekend?"  he asked.
    I shrugged.  "Visiting my grandfather, uh, painting and studying."   I sort of hated when he'd ask me these type of questions because I always sounded so boring.  I reminded myself to make up some wild adventure the next time he decided to chat me up, something like, "I spent my weekend sky diving then went snow boarding .  And then I hung out with movie stars."
    Josh put on his lopsided grin.  "Well, I have a better idea.  Why don't you come to my house?"
    Come to his house?  I pinched myself to make sure I'd heard right.
    "C'mon," he said, not waiting for my answer.  "It'll be fun."  He looked around and lowered his voice to a whisper.  "I figured it would be easier to work on our little project if we actually spend some time on it.  We'll go online... look for some ideas and stuff."
    "Oh."  My heart sank.  So he didn't want me to come over so he could be with me.  He was just worried about the Kathy thing.
    "I'll have to see if it's okay with my parents," I said, doing my best to mask my disappointment.  "Like I said, I have a lot to do this weekend.  I'm really busy."
    "I'll bet you are," Josh replied, looking into my eyes.  "But think about it, okay?"
    "Okay."  We both made our way into the band room.
    ###
    When I got to my section, I could see that Kathy was not exactly Miss Cheerful.  Her eyes were red and her cheeks blotchy.  She'd obviously been crying over something, but I wasn't about to ask her what was wrong.  "Watch where you're stepping!"   she snapped as I plopped down in my chair.  She glared at me as she shoved her flute case under her seat.  "You almost stepped on my things.  Do you know how much it cost?"
    "It's a flute case," I answered.  "It would've been fine."
    "I don't care.  I don't want your footprints mucking it up.  God knows what you've stepped in with those shoes."  She glanced at my sneakers and wrinkled her nose.  "Those are really ugly, by the way," she added.
    "Whatever."  I calmed myself with the thought of Josh's invitation.  But when I saw Kathy quickly text someone on her phone, I couldn't resist taking a look.  "WE BRK UP.   IT SUX," it said.  "I H8 ADAM."
    I realized things weren't going so well with Kathy and her college guy.  Guess even beautiful people have romantic troubles.

CHAPTER 6
     
    On Saturday, I woke up early so that I could visit my grandfather.  This would make my mom happy and then it would be easier to get her to take me to Josh's house.  Not that I don't love my grandfather or anything.  But it's hard seeing him looking like a shell of himself when it was only a while ago that he was so full of life.
    After my dad dropped me off by the nursing home, I stood outside for a moment and stared at the boxy gray building in front of me.  The