Read Online Identical by Ellen Hopkins - Free Book Online

word
    is defined.
    And hey, when it comes
    to abnormal, I can only
    be one-upped
    by
    the man driving the car. What
    would the neighbors think if they
    could look through our windows,
    beyond the closed curtains, and see
    what’s inside?

Raeanne
    School Drags Today
    Not that it’s ever exactly exciting,
    with the possible exception
    of Lawler’s history class.
    I know
    it’s terribly warped of me
    to spend an entire block
    thinking about what’s tucked
    behind the man’s zipper. Oh yeah,
    pretty
    damn sick, okay. But at least
    I’m not bored. Right now I’m
    in English, trying to figure
    out how the word “faggot”
    is defined,
    other than by a homophobe.
    We have to do a paper about
    how English has been bastardized
    by
    popular culture. But, much
    like Kaeleigh’s door, the cover
    of a dictionary is not particularly
    something I want to open to see
    what’s inside.

I’m Trying to Avoid
    Exactly that when Shelby
    taps my shoulder. Look.
    Outside, clearly framed
    by the window glass,
    my best and dearest friend
    Madison sidles up to Ian.
    A deep shade of anger
    blossoms beneath my skin.
    Screwing around with Mick—
    and so me—is one thing.
    Messing with Ian is something
    else, something unforgivable.
    I can’t believe I’m standing
    up for Kaeleigh, but I so am.
    I raise my hand. “Excuse me,
    Mrs. Finch, but I feel sick.
    May I go to the rest room?”
    Clearly unwilling to invite
    diarrhea or vomit, she waves
    me out the door.

I Have No Real Right
    To play stand-in for Kaeleigh, but
    she wouldn’t have the nerve to do
    what needs to be done anyway.
    Sorry, twin o’ mine, but it’s true.
    I watch from a short distance
    for a minute or two, trying to size
    up the situation, head to toe. Or
    maybe boob to chest is more apt.
    Not a millimeter separates Ian’s
    T-shirt from Madison’s blouse.
    In his defense, I will say Ian looks
    immensely uncomfortable.
    As I start toward them, he sees
    me, and his demeanor shifts
    from complacency to sheer panic.
    Oh darlin’, you just wait.
    At the terrified look in his eyes,
    Madison turns to face me. Smiles.
    Oh, girl. That is so not the way
    to deal with this. I’m ready to rock.
    But since I’m supposed to be
    Kaeleigh, I’ll notch it back
    to something more like passive.
    At least for the moment.

As I Move Closer
    The tenor of the scene changes
    yet again. Madison remains
    possessive, of course. It’s Ian
    whose body language alters.
    I had expected contriteness.
    Instead he seems unmovable,
    despite the certain emotion
    betrayed by his eyes: hurt.
    Okay, what did that bitch tell
    him? All thoughts of Kaeleigh
    tossed aside, I move faster toward
    the two of them. With
    obvious intent. Madison’s smile
    falls from her face and I know
    she has read the message in
    my eyes: Get the fuck
    away from him! She does, too.
    But not far. She’s a total player,
    and all in all, a worthy opponent.
    Oh, hey. Hope you don’t mind
    my borrowing Ian’s ear. I was
    just asking him to vote for me
    for junior class president.
    OMG! She’s got to be joking.
    “Oh, really? Brave of you to
    run…” I leave the obvious
    message hanging. Think better
    about letting her off so easy.
    “I’m sure Ian is smart enough
    to vote for the best candidate,
    though.” Then I move between
    them, turn to face Ian’s sad eyes.
    “May I talk to you for a minute?”
    His response is unexpected.
    He levels me with his dark
    gaze. Not right now. I’m late
    for an appointment with my
    guidance counselor. Later.
    And off he stalks, leaving
    Madison and I standing here
    together. We both stare
    after him, nothing left to say
    to each other. We both know
    exactly what the other thinks.

Maybe That Wasn’t
    Such a good move. Then again,
    maybe it was. Hopefully I at least
    managed some sort of damage
    control. Then again, maybe not.
    I wonder what she said to Ian.
    Well, it still isn’t really my business.
    And right now my mind is wrapped
    around Mick, who’s supposed to pick
    me up