Rules Of Attraction by Simone Elkeles Read Free Book Online Page A

entire football team back in high school if it would have upped her
    popularity status.”
    Once again my brother isn’t helping my cause. Thanks, bro.
    “Well, it was nice listenin’ to both of you discuss my life in front of
    me, but I’ve got to go.”
    “How are you gettin’ there?” Alex asks.
    “Walkin’. Unless . . .” I eye Brittany’s keys lying on top of her purse.
    “He can use my car,” she says to my brother. She doesn’t say it to
    me, because God forbid either my brother or she make a decision
    without the other one’s approval. “But no drinking. Or drugs.”
    “Okay, Mom,” I say sarcastically.
    Alex shakes his head. “Not a good idea.”
    She weaves her fingers through his. “It’s fine, Alex. Really. We
    were going to take the bus to visit my sister anyway.”
    For a nanosecond I like my brother’s girlfriend, but then I
    remember how she controls his life, and that warm and fuzzy feeling
    disappears as fast as a streak of lightning. I pick up Brittany’s keys and
    twirl them in my hand. “Come on, Alex. Don’t make my shitty life worse
    than it already is.”
    “Fine,” he says. “But bring that car back in perfect condition. Or
    else.”
    I salute him. “Yes, sir.”
    He pulls his cell phone out of his back pocket and tosses it to me.
    “And take this.”
    Before either of them can change their mind, I head out the door.
    I forgot to ask where her car is parked, but it’s not hard to spot. The
    Beemer shines like an angel in front of the apartment building, calling
    to me.
    I reach into my back pocket and pull out a sheet of paper with
    Madison’s address on it. I wrote it down before I washed off my arm.
    After I figure out how to use the thing, I enter the address into the
    GPS, put the top down, and screech out of the parking lot. Finally . . .
    freedom.
    I park on the street and walk up the long driveway to Madison’s
    house. I know I have the right address because music is blarin’ out of
    the second-story window and kids are hangin’ out on the front lawn.
    The house is huge. At first I’m not sure if it’s one house or an entire
    apartment building until I get close and see that it’s just one big
    mansion. I step inside the monstrosity and recognize a bunch of kids
    from my classes.
    “Carlos is here!” a girl screeches. I pretend not to hear the echo of
    squeals that follow. Madison, wearing a short clingy black dress and
    carryin’ a can of Bud Light in her hand, weaves through the crowd and
    gives me a hug. I think she spilled beer on my back. “Omigod, you’re
    here.”
    “Yeah.”
    “We need to set you up. Follow me.”
    I follow her to a kitchen that looks like it came out of a magazine.
    It has stainless-steel appliances. Big granite slabs line the top of the
    counters. Next to the sink is a huge bin stuffed to the rim with ice and
    cans of beer. I reach in and grab one.
    “Is Kiara here?” I ask.
    Madison snorts. “As if.”
    I guess that’s my answer.
    Madison wraps her hand around my elbow and leads me down a
    hallway and up a flight of stairs. “I have someone you have to meet.”
    She stops when we reach a room off to the side, filled with five huge
    vintage arcade games, a pool table, and an air-hockey table. It’s a teen
    guy’s dream.
    It also reeks of pot. I think I’m gettin’ high just by inhalin’ the air.
    “It’s the rec room,” Madison explains.
    I’m sure it takes the definition of ‘recreation room’ to a whole
    different level. A white guy is sitting on a brown leather couch, leaning
    back as if he’s content to stay in that position forever. He’s wearing a
    plain white T-shirt and black jeans and boots. I can tell he thinks he’s
    one cool dude. On a small table in front of him is a bong.
    “Carlos, this is Nick,” Madison says.
    Nick nods to me.
    I nod back. “ ’Sup.”
    Madison sits next to Nick, picks up the bong and a lighter lying
    next to it, and takes a really long hit. Damn, that girl can