Olivia Twisted (Entangled Teen) Read Online Free PDF

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Chapter Three
    Oliver: If you’re good, good things will happen to you.
    The Artful Dodger: [sarcastic] Where’d you learn that, the workhouse?
    —a film adaptation of Oliver Twist
    Liv
    “So you’re a foster, huh?” Sam asks during lunch.
    I almost choke on my pizza. “Um, yeah, how’d you know?”
    She laughs. “I know everything. Really. Doesn’t take me too long to find out what’s going on at this school. So, how do you like your foster parents?”
    I think for a moment. Do I like them? Do I even care? “Denise isn’t really the social type. Derrick is okay, I guess.” Annoying, but okay.
    “Tell me about some of your homes.”
    I take a sip of my Coke to stall, not sure that I like Sam after all. “Not much to tell. They’ve mostly been in smaller towns than this. The last home was pretty good, but they moved to Hawaii.”
    She raises her eyebrows as if to say, And?
    “Um, before that, they had lots of kids. I wasn’t really part of the family. It’s been like that mostly, some better than others.” I am not getting into details with her.
    She nods. “Yeah, that sucks. I don’t have parents either.”
    That surprises me. “You’re a foster? Or adopted?”
    “Neither.” She laughs at my confusion. “I live in a group home. You know, abandoned kids, orphaned kids, kids in trouble. It’s not bad. Nancy lets us pretty much do what we want.”
    “Oh. Sounds…nice.”
    “It’s great. You should come check it out if things get unbearable around your place. Trust me, it’s not like other homes, and you don’t have to worry about a bunch of stupid rules. We have a lot of freedom.”
    Yeah, I know of homes like that. I stayed in one years ago, and mostly what I remember is that there were bullies, and I seemed to be a magnet for them. Bullies scare the hell out of me. What I need is to try to stay in one place until I turn eighteen. And money. Somehow I don’t see Denise as the type to want to shuttle me everywhere or pay for my expenses when I’m out of the system.
    “Actually, I need a job. Do you know any place that’s hiring?”
    “Really?” she asks, her mouth full. She swallows and looks at me steadily. “What kind of job do you want?”
    “I don’t know, something that pays decent money. Maybe waiting tables?”
    She presses her lips together, studying me. “Where do you live?”
    “Not far. On Green Valley Drive.”
    “There’s a restaurant over there called Slice of Happy. They may be hiring. Oh, hey, Z, it’s about time. You have to meet our new friend,” Sam says as the strange guy from this morning sits next to her. He was in my second period English Lit class, too, though he didn’t pay me any more attention than he did in Computer Science. At closer view, he’s really not bad-looking. The black-rimmed glasses seem more trendy than nerdy. His lips are full, the corners slightly lifted in a wide pout, almost a smirk. His wheat-blond hair is plastered back, making me think his hair is longer in front. He kicks back in the chair, considering me for no more than a couple seconds before his attention shifts to Sam.
    “Seriously, Sam?”
    Um, rude much?
    “This is Z,” Sam says to me. “He’s not as big of an ass as he seems. Z, this is… Can I call you Liv?”
    I nod as Z’s eyes rake over me. Suddenly I’m very aware of my hair pulling away from its ponytail, my too-tight shirt and expensive but worn shoes. My face heats up under his scrutiny and I cross my arms over my chest.
    Sam smiles at me. “You were awesome in class today. I know you’re easily going to be one of the best in the class.” I feel a warm glow inside at the compliment, which is extinguished when I catch Z rolling his eyes. I glare at him but he just smirks back.
    Sam continues. “She was just telling me about her foster home.”
    Shut up, Sam. I know it shouldn’t be that big of a deal, but it’s my business, not hers. It apparently interests Z, though. He stares at her for a