The Theory of Everything by Kari Luna Read Free Book Online Page A

of time and space could be different than someone else’s view of time and space?” Finny asked, his voice bubbling like carbonation.
    We’d just come from a class lecture on special relativity and Finny was freaking out about it.
    â€œWhat Mr. Maxim was saying was that space and time are relative to velocity. Which means you can’t say that time is something different than space.”
    â€œYour point would be?” I said, trading my physics textbook for global studies, which was just as heavy.
    â€œRelativity is applicable to real life,” he said, almost squealing. “At this moment, someone is especially relative to you. And he’s right over there.”
    He pointed, I turned, and there was Literary Loner, sans the coffee, standing ten lockers away. Smiling at me.
    â€œOmigod, that makes three,” Finny said. He was more clued in to my budding social life than I was. “Three smiles, Sophie. That means he’s going to ask you out.”
    â€œCrap!” I said, turning around as quickly as I could. “What do I do now?”
    â€œI’d run like crazy, but I’d like to think you’re more skilled at this,” Finny said.
    â€œWell, I’m not. My class is that way,” I said, pointing in Loner’s direction. “But I’m going this way.”
    I turned and walked away from him, not sure how I was going to get to history, but at least I’d avoided Confrontation with a Crush.
    â€œCome on, Sophie,” Finny called after me. “You’re a city girl! Be brave enough for the both of us!”
    Thanks to a recent recurring panda, I wasn’t strong enough to carry anyone but myself.
    â€œI’ll see you in the cafeteria,” I said, dreading it. “That’s bravery for you.”
    As a rule, I avoided the cafeteria. Most new kids did. But since Finny was the first real friend I’d made since New York, and since he’d told me he loved Pizza Fridays more than anything, I was going to make a concession. That’s what you did for members of your tribe. Even if it was only a tribe of three. And even if one of those three was technically a cat.
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    â€œCheese or pepperoni?”
    A cafeteria lady with a crooked hairnet waved a spatula at me. I’d been waiting for Finny for ten minutes but finally got in line. And now, instead of arguing about realities, I was being accosted by a common kitchen utensil.
    â€œPick one or move on,” the cafeteria lady said, tapping her spatula on the metal pizza tray.
    â€œCheese,” I said. I could have gotten one for Finny, but he wasn’t there. And people who ditched didn’t get rewarded.
    â€œYou’re lucky—that’s the last one,” she said, handing me cardboard covered in tomato sauce.
    â€œOh, man,” said the guy behind me. “They’re out of cheese!”
    He said it like his life was ruined, even though he was on the football team and had tables of people waiting to sit with him. Without Finny, I had no one, only the emptiness that came with leaving the line and having nowhere to go. The best I could hope for was that the floor would open up and swallow me whole.
    â€œWalk much?” Heather, the head cheerleader, said as I bumped into her, spilling soda all over my tray.
    â€œMore like get dressed much,” Stacey said, pointing at my tree skirt.
    Stacey was second in command. She was also only half as funny, which was probably part of Heather’s plan. She knew what all evil leaders knew: the best way to stay on top was to surround yourself with those closer to the bottom.
    â€œIt’s pathetic,” Heather said, laughing, brunette ponytail bobbing as they both walked away.
    â€œEnvironmental is in,” I wanted to say, but I just stood there, arms trembling, mouth closed. Saving all my witty comebacks for later when they wouldn’t help me at all. And since Finny wasn’t coming, there