The Julian Game Read Online Free PDF Page A

pressed, “you make Mia’s life better —not worse—with that game. She’s probably told all her friends about the emo Harvard musician in love with her.”
    Ella looked thrown. “How could I prank Julian? He’d vent to his boys and then I’d look like a head case.”
    “Not if he never found out it was you.”
    She sipped from the bottle. More than a drop. “Listening.”
    I hesitated. I had only one card up my sleeve, and every molecule of my body was shooting for Ella’s approval. If I shared Elizabeth, maybe I could redeem myself from this night. I’d bombed as Ella’s tutor, and she hadn’t once mentioned our going to Lindy’s party. It was time to roll the dice.
    “Check this out.” I leaned in and tapped in Elizabeth’s name and password.
    And there she was. Cryptic smile, doe eyes, dewy skin.
    “Ooh-la-la. Who’s this muffin?” Ella started to scroll. “Does she know you’ve got her password? Is she really friends with all these guys? Ha, I know Cole Willing. And Harrison Pew. And Frank Senai. How does Elizabeth Lavenzck know them? Her name sounds familiar.”
    “That’s because you’re remembering it from last semester’s English Lit class,” I said. “Elizabeth Lavenza was Dr. Frankenstein’s girlfriend.”
    It took her a moment. “So . . . she’s not real? You invented her?” Delight lifted Ella’s face. “No way. That’s fantastic. ‘ How was the debat and did you like the debat from yung age? ’” Ella laughed. “Look, Julian’s online now.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’da thought he’d be at Lindy’s. That’s why I’m not. Bet he’s going later.”
    My heart sank. I guess I’d never truly, realistically thought we’d be heading off to Lindy Limon’s house tonight.
    “Julian’s almost never partying the weekend before deadline,” I explained. “He’s managing editor for The Wheel .”
    Suddenly Ella swiveled. Slit eyes. Regarding me. “Aha. So you’re madly in love with Julian Kilgarry like everyone else?”
    I tried for a scoff. “No, it’s because I’m managing editor for the Delta and I was in a Merion County interschool newspaper chat room when Julian dropped in and said how he . . .” My voice listed off as I watched Ella’s fingers race over the keyboard.
    JK I am sooo borred tonite. taking funy pix of me if they r good I cant tell. what r u up 2? “You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” Rite? ☺
    Ella sent the message, then kissed her fingertips and touched Julian’s screen image three times. It was an outdoors shot, with his face mostly shaded by a baseball cap. Standard guy picture.
    “He won’t answer,” I said.
    “He’ll answer this.”
    “Why?”
    Ella shrugged. “He’ll like it. It’s sweet and Julian likes to act sweet. When he’s not being a tool.”
    WtP
    “Oh my God! You got an answer! What does it mean?” I asked.
    “Winnie-the-Pooh.” Ella straightened, energized. “Julian’s brother Silas and my sister, Mimi, went to Media Elementary together. The Winnie-the-Pooh quote was in the front hall. I always saw Julian when our moms picked them up.” She smiled. “I knew he’d remember. That’s my Jules.”
    By now, he’d sent another message. who r u lavenzck? foto a fake?
    This time I reached in and typed nothing fake about me big boy just give me a—
    “Idiot, no. You’ll undo everything.” Ella brushed away my hand and pressed the delete cursor. “If you make Elizabeth all dumb and slutty, he’ll blow her off. He’s got to think she’s normal. Watch and learn.”
    Quickly she typed in my countrey we get the profesionel pictur after having 18 yrs. In krakow by now id be wife so 2 b in art scool insted is dream come tru. I do not want husbin yet l am lonly for nice boys.
    I nodded. “Loving the spelling. You’re a natural.”
    She looked up. “I do know how to spell, Raye. I’m not a moron. If that’s what you’re