Read Online Opheliac by J. F. Jenkins - Free Book Online Page B

with the wrong hot guy. “And the offer is still on the table. I’m not taking it back. Tomorrow, you can help me eat the leftovers. How’s that? Come on, what’s it going to be?” She shrugged, trying to keep things light, and not give off even an inkling of just how much she was willing to do for him. When it came to Orlando, she found herself wanting to give above and beyond his expectations just to see him smile.
    He sighed. “Lexington, call home.” The phone rang again.
    â€œHello?” his mother answered again.
    â€œGo ahead and order the pizza. My friend and I will be there in about fifteen minutes.”
    â€œOh, okay! What kind should I get?”
    â€œI’ll take a large, stuffed crust supreme pizza. I like anchovies, olives, the works. If they can put a kitchen sink on there, make it happen.”
    â€œYou want a large pizza all for yourself?”
    â€œI’m seventeen, Mom. Not five.”
    She scoffed quietly. “I’m well aware of how old you are. You’re just so skinny.”
    â€œAll the more reason to get me a large!”
    â€œOkay, and your friend will be eating what, then?”
    He glanced over at Angela. So long as he remembered that she was a vegetarian, that was the important thing. She, however, was too afraid to open her mouth. When she didn’t speak, he did his classic eye roll. “Get a medium margarita pizza, and an order of the cheesy garlic bread. Oh, and the cinnamon dough balls. Those are good too.”
    â€œAll right, I think I got all of that.”
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œI’ll see you soon.”
    â€œYep, bye.” He hung up the phone again quickly, pushing the same button on the steering wheel that he had before.
    Angela smiled over at him, wanting to let him know she was proud for taking the higher road with his parents. Given all of the drama in his family, it couldn’t have been an easy thing for him to do. At the same time, she knew how much he hated a big deal being made over anything. The way he’d chastised his mom over the phone earlier was proof of that. Hopefully, the smile was enough for him to get the message. Everyone needed encouragement, right?
    He glanced her way, returning the smile. “Thank you, too.”
    â€œI just did what any good friend would do.”
    â€œYeah, I get that. It’s been a while since I’ve had a good friend.”
    â€œYou were just waiting for me. My kind of awesome only comes once in a lifetime.” She winked.
    Slowly, he raked his lower lip between his teeth. “Cocky much?”
    â€œCocky, confident, I guess they’re the same thing.” She shrugged, trying not to show how self-conscious his comment made her. She was ninety-nine percent sure he was only joking around with her anyway. If he’d been serious about her having too much attitude, he’d have been a whole lot more rude to her. Assuming she knew Orlando like she thought she did, at least. He didn’t seem to have issues with sparing people’s feelings when he was annoyed.
    After a moment passed, he glanced her way. “Confidence is cool. I’m glad someone else on the planet gets that. I was getting worried everyone had turned into passive-aggressive robots or something.”
    â€œI’m confident when I have reason to be.” But definitely not in everything she would have liked.
    Just like any other normal teenage girl, she had her fair share of insecurities. Different situations brought them out in different ways. The only thing she was insecure about when it came to Orlando was the crush-like feelings she had for him. Oddly, she didn’t have any fear about if he felt the same way toward her. All of the fear came from what Alan would do if he knew how she felt. After the fiasco of JD and Cadence’s failed attempt at a relationship, the alien had made it a rule that no one in the group date one another again.
    Orlando gave a