Life of the Party Read Online Free PDF Page A

excuse: the irritating buzz in my ears. Tinnitus, pronounced my know-all sister, from playing my music too loud.
    ‘
Come on
.’ I nudged Billie again.
    ‘Come on where?’
    I sighed. ‘Computer room! You wanted to look up that band Martin told you about?’
    ‘Yeah.’ She gave me a funny frown. ‘Yeah, course. Let’s go.’
    She was quiet on the way. I was pushingopen the door when she spoke again.
    ‘I never said anything about this,’ she said.
    ‘What d’you mean?’
    ‘Coming in here. I never mentioned it.’
    I shrugged. ‘You must’ve.’
    ‘No, I never. It was a spur of the moment thing. I only remembered when I saw Marty.’
    For an instant my spine tingled, but I shook myself and shrugged again. I didn’t know what she was getting at.
    Martin’s precious band snapped her out of her odd mood. I was leaning on her chairback and offering unhelpful suggestions, making her laugh as she tapped at the keyboard, when Mr Galt rapped the door.
    ‘There you are, Lara.’ He frowned. ‘Mr Jaffrey’s looking for you. Could you go to hisoffice, please?’
    Billie raised her head, puzzled, fingers hovering over the keyboard.
    ‘Now?’ I asked stupidly.
    ‘
Now
.’
    I shrugged again. Lately it seemed I couldn’t do anything right around Galt. He never said anything, but I got the feeling I’d annoyed him, big time.
    ‘See ya later,’ I told Billie, hefting my schoolbag.
    I half-turned so she could reply ‘Alligator’ like she always did.
    But, pretending not to hear me, she glowered at the screen, battering her keyboard like she was trying to do it a permanent injury.