Read Online Moby Clique by Cara Lockwood - Free Book Online

Ryan does something that takes me by surprise. He throws his arm around Lindsay’s shoulders and pulls in close enough to whisper something in her ear. Her eyes get big and bright.
    I feel a twinge in my stomach. Jealousy? What is Ryan doing getting so cozy with my sister?
    “Seriously?” Lindsay says when he’s finished. “You mean it?”
    “Sure do,” Ryan says, and then he hands her his letterman jacket. The very same jacket that I wore most of last semester. She giggles and puts it on and gives me a look that says “Ha!” and she then trots happily back to the other benches. I can’t believe what I’ve just seen. Is Ryan going after my sister ? I feel hot and then cold and then hot again. “Furious” is the word that comes to mind. F-U-R-I-O-U-S.
    I glance quickly over the fire and see that I’m not the only one. Parker’s mouth is pressed in a thin line. She’s only barely keeping it together, and I’m sure it’s only for Ryan’s benefit. She gives Lindsay a stare that would kill a weaker person, but Lindsay doesn’t even register it, because she’s patting the letterman jacket like it’s a puppy dog. Oh, she is in for a world of pain, and not from me. Parker may have been out to humiliate me before, but now she’s gunning for Lindsay.
    “Sorry, guys,” Ryan says, flashing us an innocent smile, completely oblivious to the fact that he’s just started World War III.
    “Keep your friend Parker on a leash,” Blade tells him.
    “She won’t bother you again,” Ryan promises, but he’s looking at me. I’m too mad to even respond, so all I do is nod curtly and look away. That’s when I see Heathcliff standing very still under a tree a little distance from the pit. He’s watching me closely. It’s the first time I’ve seen him since my sister went Broadway in the cafeteria, and the first time we’ve made eye contact since he ran off and left me on the commons after thinking I still had a thing for Ryan. And now he sees me talking to Ryan? Not good. Not good at all.
    I put up my hand in a little wave, but Heathcliff just shoves his hands in his pockets and walks quickly in the other direction.
    It’s official. My life should be declared a national disaster.

Nine
    The next day, I look for Heathcliff everywhere, but can’t find him. I feel like I need to explain.
    “Have you guys seen Heathcliff?” I ask Blade, Hana, and Samir, who are gathered for what they call dinner in the cafeteria. We’ve just finished eating and we’re piling our trays on the conveyer belts near the exits.
    “Not since fifth period,” Blade says. “And he seemed to be in one of his moods.”
    “I don’t think he has moods. I think he just has one mood,” Hana says.
    “Yeah, royally pissed off,” Samir adds.
    “He’s not surly all the time,” I say, thinking about the afternoon on the commons. He definitely smiled at me then.
    The three of them give me skeptical glances as we push through the doors and head outside. “Oh yeah, he’s only surly when he breathes, that’s all,” Blade says.
    “You think he frowns in his sleep?” Hana asks.
    “If he even sleeps at all,” Samir says. “Do fictional characters need to sleep? He certainly doesn’t seem to need to eat, since he’s skipped most of the cafeteria meals around here.”
    “He does need to eat, and I’m sure he needs to sleep,” I say. “He’s just like us.”
    “Yeah, only he’s actually a figment of somebody’s imagination,” Hana points out.
    “Does that mean I’m a figment, too?” I ask.
    “No, you’re only one-sixteenth a figment,” Blade says.
    “Or is it one-twenty seventh?” Hana asks.
    “Hey, guys, look,” Blade says, pointing to a new bulletin board outside the cafeteria. Over the top, bold letters read: REWARD FOR INFORMATION . Below it, there’s one photograph of a Bard student in a Bard blazer.
    “You think that’s the runaway?” Hana asks.
    “Looks like it,” Samir says. “Or, could be anything. What