Narc Read Online Free PDF

asked.
    “Maybe.”
    “I’ve been hanging with this guy,” she said.
    “What guy? What do you mean ‘hanging’? You’re only in junior high. You’re not old enough to date.”
    “Oh, my god. People at my school have been dating since, like, sixth grade. You promised not to tell.”
    “Okay, okay,” I said.
    “At least I have a social life. Unlike my stupid brother,” she said, pushing my shoulder. “Can I use the computer now?”
    “Not if you continue to insult me.”
    “Fine. Me and Zeus have better things to do,” she said, scooping up the dog. She grabbed his leash and stomped out of the apartment.
    My sister had no clue what was going on, despite the fact that she was technically the whole point of this circus act. Her biggest problem was choosing between rainbow sprinkles or gummy worms at Whip ’n Dip.
    Lucky.
    The bathroom door banged open. Mom came rushing out, decked in her teddy bear scrubs.
    “Haylie just took off,” I told her. “She’s staying at a friend’s.”
    “What friend?”
    “God. How do I know?”
    Mom said, “I was clearing out your stuff when I noticed that you left your glasses in the closet. Don’t you need them anymore?”
    “Not really. The prescription is out of date. Besides … I prefer contacts.”
    “Well, you’ve got to give your eyes a rest sometime.”
    “That’s okay, thanks.”
    “But you look so handsome with them on,” she said.
    “Actually, I don’t.”
    Mom sighed. “If you damage your eyes, it’s your own fault.”
    I stared at the computer screen, watching the cursor blink in 4/4 time. Almost as if I’d willed it to happen, up popped another instant message from Morgan.
I like iChat better. Can you log on?
    Okay. I clicked the icon at the bottom of the screen, a talk balloon from a comic book. Morgan IMed me at my listed screen name right away.
LadyM: I will refrain from using the phrase ‘what’s up’ cuz i use it too much and now i must atone.
    I sat there, trying to think of what to say, but Mom wouldn’t stop bugging me about the merits of wearing glasses. I tuned her out and started typing:
Metroid: Sorry i’m not responsive … talking to Mom.
LadyM: No prob. Are you coming to Skully’s thing tonight? Should be memorable and destructive.
Metroid: Yes. I might need a ride, tho.
    Mom’s voice screeched down the hall. “Are you on the computer? I can hear you pecking on the keyboard. It’s very rude when someone’s trying to talk to you, mister.”
    “Geez, Mom. Don’t be so passive-aggressive. So what’s the deal with Haylie? Is she still having nightmares?”
    “Your sister is fine,” Mom snapped.
    Ever since Dad died, Haylie had been acting majorly weird. She distracted her brain with technology, vegging in front of the TV, just curled up in the blue glow. Mom tried to monitor our computer time for a while, but Haylie pitched a fit about it. Eventually, my sister got her way.
    “Haylie keeps having nightmares,” Mom said, “because she stays up late, watching those Japanese cartoons with all the blood and guts.”
    “Well, maybe if she wasn’t left alone so much, she wouldn’t watch that crap,” I said. “She’s only fourteen.”
    “What do you want me to do?” Her voice rose a notch. “I arranged my shifts at the hospital so I can be home in the morning.”
    “Whatever.”
    “I’m doing the best I can, Aaron. It might help if you talked to her more often. That goes for me, too. You only talk when you want something.”
    “Mom, please.” I felt like I was trapped in my own personal rerun, the same conversation repeating over and over.
    “How are you doing … really?” she asked.
    “Cool. Everything is cool.”
    She knew nothing about my life.
    “All right then,” she said and shook her head. “Talk to you later.”
    Mom always got the last word. When she finally left, I waited until the door shut and I could breathe steady again. Then I checked the computer. Morgan had sent me an IM so slangy, it