Read Online Out of Order by Robin Stevenson - Free Book Online Page A

us,” I say.
    Zelia brightens. “Really? You think your mom would let me?”
    â€œOf course.”
    She sighs. “I wish I could live here with you all the time.” She stretches her legs out and pulls Gran’s quilt over her feet. “So, did you miss me?”
    â€œOf course,” I say again.
    She looks at me sideways, sliding her eyes toward me with­out turning her head. “Did you hang out with Max?”
    â€œYeah. Some.” My stomach is starting to hurt.
    Zelia’s eyes are narrowed and her pupils are pinpoints.
    â€œI don’t think you should hang out with her,” she says.
    Her words hit me, sink in and drop into my belly like cold stones.
    I arrange my face to look unconcerned. “Yeah? How come?”
    Zelia waves her hands dismissively. “She’s a Clone. Just a diVerent kind of Clone. Not like Tammy and those girls, but come on, please. Her and Jas and what’s her name, the fat one.”
    â€œMaisie,” I say, quietly.
The fat one, the fat one.
    â€œWhatever. They all think they’re such individuals because... what? They wear black? They wear weird makeup? It’s so lame. They all dress exactly the same and then act like they’re so unique.”
    â€œThey’re okay,” I say.
    Zelia shrugs. “Well, do what you want. Just don’t expect me to hang around with the Goth triplets.”
    I feel like I should say something—argue with her or something—but I don’t. I just bite the inside of my lip and feel trapped.
    There is a long silence. Zelia opens her purse, pulls out a bottle of black nail polish and starts painting her nails. The smell makes me feel sick.
    â€œLet’s go outside,” I say.
    Gran is standing at the bottom of the stairs; I think shemust have been waiting to catch me alone.
    I smile at her tentatively. She ignores my smile and grabs my arm. Hard.
    She turns to Zelia. “Go on, you. I want to talk to Sophie.”
    Zelia looks at me and smirks. I half close my eyes, willing her to leave.
    â€œO-kay,” Zelia says. Her voice is low and mocking, but she goes ahead.
    Gran holds me away from her and looks at me with eyes like steel. I squirm inwardly.
    â€œI’m really sorry,” I whisper. “About last weekend. It was dumb.”
    She shakes her head. “You know, you’re such a lucky girl. You have a mother who loves you, you go to a good school, you have nice clothes, plenty to eat...And there you are, begging on the sidewalk. I don’t understand.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” I say again. “It was just a joke. A stupid game.”
    Gran snorts. “It’s that Zelia,” she says. “She’s a bad influence on you. I know that type—she thinks nothing can touch her. She thinks she’s better than everyone else, but she’s nothing special.”
    â€œShe is better.” I feel myself hardening again. “She is special.”
    Gran shakes her head. “She’s trouble, that one.”
    â€œI have to go,” I say, pulling my arm free. I follow Zelia’s path out the back door and to the hidden spot behind my mom’s office. Zelia is sitting there, smoking and stripping leaves off the rhododendrons.
    She looks at me, eyebrows raised. “Gertrude still pissed about last weekend?”
    â€œDon’t call her that.” I feel tired. Tired of Gran. Tired of Zelia. Tired of myself.
    Zelia shrugs and butts out her cigarette in the grass. “I got some stuff for you. I almost forgot.”
    She opens her leather backpack and turns it upside down. A cascade of eyeliners, lipsticks, hair gel and jewelry tumbles onto the grass.
    I pick up a pair of silver hoop earrings and turn them over in my hand. “For me? How come? Where’d you get all this stuff?” As soon as the words pass my lips, I want to snatch them back.
    Zelia’s mouth curves in a contented smile. “I missed you,