Best Friends (Until Someone Better Comes Along) Read Online Free PDF Page B

“It’s fine.” Bailey stood there, waiting for something. I didn’t know what. I squinted at her and asked, “Do you want me to give you some money for the Coke?”
    â€œOh,” Bailey said, her blue eyes wide. That’s when I noticed for the first time that Bailey was really pretty. Herhair was curly and long, and this really cool copper color. She had tiny freckles that dotted her cheeks, the kind I’d always wanted. She looked a little like the American Girl doll that I’d loved when I was little. But unlike my doll, who always had on the cutest clothes, Bailey was dressed in ripped shorts and a too-big T-shirt. Also, her hair was sort of crazy and flyaway, like she’d been shoved in the back of someone’s closet for too long. That video camera I’d seen her with earlier was stuffed in her back pocket, which made it look like she had some sort of unfortunate growth on her butt. “No, of course you don’t have to give me money.” After a pause, she quietly added, “You’re welcome.”
    The other kids in the group were looking at me funny. That’s when I realized I had forgotten to say thank you. I knew it was rude to say nothing when she’d gone and fetched me a soda, but I really did just forget. It wasn’t an intentional diss. But I also knew that if I caved and said thanks now, after Bailey had prompted me, I would look pitiful. So instead, I just popped open the top of my soda and took a big swallow.
    â€œI’m Brennan,” Lobster Boy said suddenly. So suddenly that I choked on my soda a little bit. “And this is my brother, Zach.” He pointed at the bug-roasting kid, who was wearingnothing but a pair of swim trunks. “In case you were wondering.”
    â€œIsabella,” I said in response. “It’s nice to meet you.”
    â€œThis is my little sister, Madeline,” Ava said quietly. “She’s ten. I know she looks older than me.” Ava blushed. Even though she was younger than her sister, Madeline was at least as tall as Ava. Ava was short and wiry, while Madeline was tall and strong-looking. The only thing that made them look like sisters was their matching white-blond hair.
    â€œAnd that guy over there, the one getting sticks for marshmallows, is Levi,” Brennan said. “He likes to whittle.”
    â€œWhistle?” I asked, wondering if Brennan had a lisp.
    â€œWhittle,” Lobster Boy Brennan said slowly, as though I was stupid. “Wood.”
    I shrugged, still confused. “Oh.” I felt all their eyes on me, as though I was supposed to say something more. As if everyone in the world had heard of whittling, and I was some sort of weirdo for being clueless. They all continued to stare. It felt like minutes passed, but it was probably only about two seconds. Still, I’d never been in this position before—where people were expecting me to say something, but I had nothing at all to say. It almost felt like they were auditioning me for the role of “Friend” in a TV movie or something. But I’mnot the kind of girl who auditions. People just want to be my friend. That’s the way it’s always worked, for as long as I could remember.
    But even as I tried to convince myself of that, I kept getting more and more nervous. It was obvious that Brennan, Zach, Bailey, Ava, Madeline, and Levi all knew each other. Knew each other well , in fact. I was the outsider. “What’s whittling?” I asked finally, just to get them to stop staring. Maybe someone would say something and break the uncomfortable silence. My pinkie fingernail had started to bleed again, and I hadn’t even realized I was picking at it. I tucked it against my palm, hoping no one would see.
    â€œWhittling,” Levi said from behind me, “is this.” He poked me in the back with some sort of stick that he’d shaved into a fine point with a small knife.