She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott Read Free Book Online

anyone actually hates you,” he said quickly.
    “No. They actually do,” Annie countered matter-of-factly.
    “Annie,” David said through his teeth.
    “What?”
    I couldn’t take this conversation anymore. “No. It’s fine. I just . . . I’m confused.” I looked at Annie. “Weren’t you at Shale’s party last night?”
    “I crash Crestie functions from time to time. For research,” Annie replied. She took a swig of her milk and wiped her lip with the back of her hand.
    “Research?” I asked.
    “Yeah. They don’t exactly like the Norms showing up, but if I don’t bother them, they don’t bother me. It’s like a ‘don’t talk, don’t talk back’ policy. You, however, you talk back.” She gave a short, almost proud, laugh.
    “Not really. . . .”
    “Listen, just so you know, if you ever want help steering clear of the Cresties, I have all their schedules on here.” She whipped out her school-issued laptop, also covered in stickers, and opened it to reveal a spreadsheet of student schedules. Yes, all the students at Orchard Hill High were given their very own MacBook on their first day of school, for use throughout their academic careers at OHH. My own slightly-used-but-clean computer was currently nestled inside my messenger bag. I had a feeling the powers that be weren’t going to appreciate Annie’s decorations when she returned hers at the end of senior year. “I can help you map out Crestie-free routes to all your classes.”
    “Oookay,” I said, taking a sip of iced tea. “Hey, Annie, I have a question. Why do you have all the Crestie schedules on your computer?” I asked in a joking tone.
    “You’re funny,” she said again, narrowing her eyes at me. “I don’t remember you being funny.” She turned the screen forward and typed a few words. “I’m writing an exposé. Or a trashy novel. Haven’t decided which yet. But either way I have to keep tabs on them at all times. That’s why I go to their parties even though they don’t want me there.”
    So that’s what she meant by “research.”
    “Wow. That’s . . . interesting. Is Faith helping you with that?” I asked.
    She let out this noise that was, like, half cackle, half guffaw. “Um, no.”
    I looked at David. He shook his head ever so slightly like, Don’t go there. I guess more had changed between Faith and Annie than their personal styles. Time for a new topic.
    “You play?” I asked, nodding at David’s soccer ball.
    “Soccer or guitar?” he asked, pouring some protein powder into his Gatorade, capping it, and shaking it up. “Actually, it doesn’t matter. I play both. And this year I have a new band and I plan to make varsity.”
    “Cool. Maybe I can be your backslapper.”
    “You’re still doing Backslappers?” Annie asked incredulously.
    I shrugged, ignoring the twinge of nerves in my shoulders. “Yeah. Why?”
    “The Cresties own the Backslappers,” David said. “Are you a sadist?”
    “You’re on soccer with them and you’re still alive,” I pointed out.
    “Excellent point,” David said, tipping his bottle again. “But I’m tough. I can take it.”
    “So can I,” I replied, wishing I felt a tad more confident.
    “I like a girl with guts,” David said as Annie sighed audibly and made another note in her notebook. Which I was definitely going to have to get my hands on ASAP. “But when it comes to backslappers, I’m holding out for Shannen Moore.”
    He nodded toward the windows, and I turned to look at my old friend. She was sitting at the end of the Crestie table, chatting with Faith and Chloe in her skinny jeans and emerald tank top, those long bangs once again covering her eyes. Jake, Hammond, and the Idiot Twins were watching something on one of their laptops, yucking it up in that doofy way boys do when they’re in a group. And yet, even being doofy, Jake was still annoyingly hot.
    “He’s been in love with her for-ev-er,” Annie said edgily.
    “I would kill for her to