King of Forgotten Clubs Read Online Free PDF Page A

grounds that we’d never gotten around to writing down rules.
    “He’s a member by extension.”
    “You can’t just say words and get your way.”
    Sam sat on the hood of his car and offered a hand to Birdie. “Yes, she can.”
    Birdie beamed and joined him on the makeshift seating.
    I don’t know why I’d bothered arguing at all. If I could convince Birdie to do anything, we’d still be together, and Sam would be off frying potatoes or whatever it was he did. But she’d insisted we were destructive together, and now here we were, apart. She was blissfully happy, and my life was in ashes. Maybe she was right, except maybe it wasn’t “us” that was the problem. Maybe it was just me.
    “Where’s Annabelle?” I looked around as if she might appear out of the air. I needed someone to throw me off-center and knock me out of my dark mood. Madison wasn’t there yet, either, but she had the longest drive.
    Birdie pursed her lips. “She’ll be here.”
    Our resident pyromaniac pulled into the parking lot in a baby-blue El Camino. Madison parked and got out.
    “New ride?” Sam asked.
    When did he notice cars, anyway? I shoved my irritation away. I would not waste any more time hating Sam. A girl’s life was at risk—and not just any girl. Kali. Who I’d thoroughly wronged.
    “Something about appealing to voters,” Madison said sadly. I couldn’t remember what she used to drive, but she’d clearly been attached to it.
    Birdie clapped her hands. “Now that we’re all assembled—”
    “We’re not all assembled,” I interrupted. “Annabelle isn’t here yet.”
    Birdie’s eyes darted back and forth.
    “What do you know?” I demanded.
    “I—” Birdie said.
    “Leave off, Higgins,” Sam said.
    I growled. No one called me by my last name. “Doesn’t it bother anyone but me that he’s here?”
    “No,” Madison said. Of course. I couldn’t remember a single incident of something bothering Madison.
    “Can we get on with the mission?” Birdie asked.
    I huffed out a breath. “Fine. But pizza boy has to wait in the car.”
    “Pak!” Birdie planted her hands on her hips.
    Sam rolled his eyes. “It’s fine. I’ll go. Just don’t turn this into an hour-long meeting of the We Hate Sam Club.”
    Birdie popped a kiss on his cheek. “I’ll tell them off if they try.”
    Sam retreated into his car. Victory was mine. For the moment.
    I looked around at what was left of the Stone Throwers. We were hardly an organized machine of terror and scheming. Not for the first time, I missed the days when we thought we could conquer the world.
    “Right,” I said. “This is a rescue mission.”
    “What are we rescuing, your brains or your self-worth?”
    I spun around. Annabelle stood behind me, looking like a goddess of destruction in full wrath mode. “Annabelle.” I stared at her, trying to see past her aviators to decipher what she was thinking.
    A muscle in her cheek jumped. “Well?”
    “Well, what?” I asked.
    “Who are we rescuing?”
    I pulled myself out of my stupor. “Kali. I mean, Rachel. Er, the blonde with the nose piercing.”
    “We’re doing what ?” Birdie’s screech could have set off burglar alarms.
    I glared at her. “I’m not asking you to destroy anyone’s life. I’m asking you to save it.”
    Birdie crossed her arms.
    “I’m with Birdie,” Annabelle said. “I’m not helping some bimbo get out of a mess she created herself.”
    “She didn’t create it! She’s in real trouble!”
    “I’ll help,” Madison said softly.
    Birdie and Annabelle were too busy staring me down to notice.
    “I’m out,” Annabelle said.
    Birdie nodded and slid down from the car.
    “Wait. I can’t do this on my own.” I didn’t have resources. I didn’t even have a plan. All I had were my friends, and if they wouldn’t help, I didn’t know what I’d do.
    Annabelle didn’t stop walking.
    Birdie paused. “If I help you, will you do something for me?”
    “Depends.” I was