Sleeping Jenny by Aubrie Dionne Read Free Book Online Page B

enhancements to make them see perfectly and have their teeth grow straight?
    I followed the crowd, feeling like the smallest, dorkiest has-been the world had ever known. The bell rang and I checked my miniscreen for my schedule, my fingers fumbling over the keypad.
    Period 1: Homeroom 504D .
    Okay, homeroom. I could deal with that.
    I followed the classrooms until I reached 504D and stepped in. Of course, I was majorly late. Everyone stared at me as I walked in, even the teacher. You’d think I’d grown two heads.
    â€œJenny Streetwater?” The teacher finally found her voice after a long, awkward silence.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œThird screen on the right. Aisle two. I’m Mrs. Rickard.”
    Everyone sat behind what looked like large, sideways TV screens. What happened to desks? An unoccupied screen sat between a girl that looked like she’d win Miss Universe and a guy who looked so familiar I almost lost my half-digested soycakes on the floor.
    Chad?
    It couldn’t be. He’d be over three hundred years old. My heart leaped up to my throat. Was he frozen, too?
    As I rounded the corner of screens, I got a better look. My stomach pitched. This guy wasn’t Chad. Although he had Chad’s features, he was way hotter, like times one hundred to infinity squared. His features were sharper and more proportional, his body was more muscular, and his hair shone like black midnight, smooth and silky to the point I wanted to run my hands through it.
    â€œLook, it’s Neanderthal girl,” Miss Universe announced.
    I took my seat behind her and in front of the hotter Chad.
    Snickers and giggles filled the room, making my cheeks blaze. I slumped forward until my pale hair covered my face.
    â€œEnough, Exara.” Mrs. Rickard pressed a panel and a screen flashed on behind her. “Principal Hall has something for all of you to hear.”
    An older man with gray streaks in his hair, wearing a golden tunic with a fake tie embroidered on the front, held up a miniscreen. “Welcome to another great year at Ridgewood Prep. As you embark on your individual learning journeys, keep your goals in mind at all times and persevere against adversity.”
    My brain glazed over with all the generalizations. Yadda yadda. Sounded like he was giving a graduation speech, and we hadn’t even started classes.
    Someone tapped my shoulder, and I turned around to face the better-looking Chad.
    He leaned in, dark eyes gleaming. “Are you really from the past?”
    I paused, not knowing if he was interested or if he would tease me like Miss Universe. I decided to play it safe. “Yeah.”
    The principal still gabbed in the background. I cast a glance over to make sure the teacher hadn’t noticed me talking. “Why?”
    He shrugged. “Just cuz. I think history’s cybertopic.”
    â€œCyberwhat?”
    â€œJennifer, is there something you want to share with the class?”
    I whirled around. The first day and I’d already gotten into trouble. “I’m sorry. No, ma’am.”
    Exara whispered under her breath, “No, ma’am ? What is this? The Plymouth Mayflower?”
    Mrs. Rickard gave Exara a cold stare and then returned to me. “Good.” She pressed a panel on the wall and the principal’s announcements resumed.
    â€œPsst.”
    I couldn’t believe it. Hotter Chad wanted to get me in trouble again. I steeled myself and pretended not to hear him.
    â€œJennifer.” My name sounded odd on his tongue, like he hadn’t said the name Jennifer before. It caught my attention. I eyed Mrs. Rickard and turned around slowly. “What is it?”
    â€œWhat year?”
    I shook my head in confusion.
    â€œWhat year are you from?”
    A light tinkling of music came on the intercom and everyone jumped up from their screen desks. Everyone except for me and Chad’s look-alike.
    â€œTwo-thousand-twelve.”
    â€œWow.” He