The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks Read Online Free PDF

like Goofy?”
He shrugged, and Frankie wondered how he could possibly have forgotten a conversation like that.
“He’s a nimrod for not remembering,” said Matthew, as if he hadn’t done something similar himself. “Say you’re a nimrod, Dean.”
“Oh, I’m a nimrod. Ask anyone you see.”
“Alpha,” Frankie said, turning, “is Dean a nimrod?”
“Of course, Frankie-that-I-sweated-on. But he also has no short-term memory. He’s obliterated half his brain cells with that contraption he keeps in his room.”
Dean nodded. “It’s true. My cognitive functioning is noticeably impaired.”
“Except for the straight-A average.” Matthew socked Dean on the arm.
“Except nothing,” answered Dean. “It’s all smoke and mirrors. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!”
Frankie couldn’t stay angry, though she was sure Dean was lying about not remembering her. How could she be mad when they were so completely undignified? Magnificently silly. Willing to send themselves up at the slightest opportunity, prostrate themselves, admit to frailties. Dean openly mocked himself and acted almost ashamed of his straight-A marks. Alpha wasn’t embarrassed that he’d barely made it up the easy course on the rock wall; he sweated on people and made fun of his own physique. And Matthew—well, she couldn’t have been mad at Matthew, anyway.
These guys, they were so sure of their places in life—so deeply confident of their merit and their future—they didn’t need any kind of front at all.

THE LADIES

It was the same guy from the beach, I’d swear on my mother’s grave,” Frankie fin
“ ished as she and Trish kick-boarded the length of the pool. Trish was the roommate, you’ll recall. “No way,” she said, breathing hard as she kicked. “It was him,” said Frankie. “The one who took your custard? Whose name you never got?” “Yes.” “And did you fall into each other’s arms?” “He didn’t remember me.” “Get out.” “None of them remembered me, Trish.” “You’re kidding.”
“Not Dean, and not Matthew, not this Alpha guy. It’s like I’m invisible.”
“Like you were invisible,” corrected Trish. “And now you’re not.”
“Because my chest filled out? Come on. They have got to look at girls’ faces every once in a while. Otherwise how are they going to recognize anyone?”
Trish laughed. “I’m betting that if all of us started padding or wearing minimizers, the boys of this school would be completely confused and unable to identify at least half of the female population. Haven’t you seen the way they always talk to your chest?”
“No.”
“Well, you didn’t have that much chest last year, no offense. But that’s what they do. They talk to the Ladies. If you know what I mean.”
“It can’t be all about the Ladies.”
“Yes, it can.”
“Be serious.”
Trish hauled herself out of the pool. “Okay, you’re right. Matthew didn’t remember you because he’s a big man on campus. All he cares about are the people in his own circle, and he’s oblivious to everything else, even when it’s right in front of his nose—unless he sees a girl he’s attracted to.”
“Oh, I don’t think he’s like that.”
“Whatever. Dean, though: you’re right. I think he’s lying, because that Dean guy is always trying to make himself feel important. He acts like he doesn’t remember you because that makes him feel big—it gives him the upper hand in the conversation.”
“But why does he even need it?”
“Because Matthew obviously likes you, that’s why. And Dean is threatened by anything that takes Matthew away from him.”
“Good thing your mom is a shrink.”
Trish squeezed water out of her hair. “It is good. Now, on to the third one. There is no way that Alpha guy wouldn’t remember you. It was only two weeks ago you guys were flirting on the beach.”
“I even mentioned how we’d met, but he blew it off. Like it wasn’t him.” Frankie was out of the water