Read Online Sidekick by Natalie Whipple - Free Book Online
Authors: Natalie Whipple
Tags: Contemporary
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hurts. A lot.
“Hey!” I rub the spot. “What was that for? I didn’t say it!”
“You brought it up!” She shoves me. “Do I have to repeat what I did to you during the final episode of Inuyasha? I seem to remember you whimpering like a baby after I—”
“Stop!” My face burns as I involuntarily wince at the memory. She’s referring to the one and only time I said her last name out loud—the night that ended with an icepack on my crotch. “Okay! Sorry! I’m man enough to admit you beat me up, so please spare the details.”
She softens the littlest bit and doesn’t say more.
“As you can see, Keira,” Colin says, his legs crossed tighter than necessary, “I strongly recommend not messing with Daphne.”
Daphne folds her arms behind her head, totally satisfied with herself. “Yeah, I’m Izzy’s bouncer.”
We settle in with our snacks just as Izzy’s timer goes off. That very second, she presses play and sits next to Colin. Then we watch, and watch. Except half the time I’m wondering if anything’s going to happen with Garret and Keira. So far, Garret hasn’t even dared rest his hand behind her on the couch. Maybe he’s off his game. He has to feel out of place here with The Dork Squad.
At the first break, they rag on him when he asks about the teardrops and squiggly lines above the characters’ heads. He doesn’t talk much after that.
They pass out fast tonight. It’s barely three. Garret’s watching the TV intently, but he has his head in one hand like it will fall off if he doesn’t hold it up. He may be a noob, but he does seem determined to like anime. Trent’s snoring in the recliner. Daphne’s head crashed into my shoulder a little while ago and I don’t have the heart to move it. Besides, it looks like Keira might be headed the same direction.
Her head bobs forward, and she snaps it back up. Then she leans it back against the couch and closes her eyes. Ever so slowly, her face inches diagonally toward my shoulder. My skin tingles with anticipation. Then her cheek presses against me and I can’t breathe.
Tonight rocks.
Izzy turns off the TV when the episode ends, since most everyone’s asleep. She closes her eyes and stuffs a pillow behind her head. I’m not moving for anything, even if I’m slightly uncomfortable with Daphne on my other side. She’s never done that to me before, but she’s accidentally fallen asleep on Trent and Colin. I’m usually in the recliner.
A phone rings, and all the sleepers shoot straight up.
“Oh, shit!” Keira digs around in her purse. “What time is it?”
“Past three,” I say above the groans from everyone else.
“Mom?” Keira says when she answers it. “I’m sorry. I lost track of time and fell—” She rolls her eyes. “Their parents are here. It’s not like we’re having some massive orgy.” She puts her hand over the receiver. “Can you give me a ride home, Garr?”
Garret perks up. “Sure.”
“I’m coming right now. I have a ride, so you don’t even have to put on your slippers. See how nice I am? Bye.” She hangs up, standing abruptly. “My mom thinks we’re all naked over here— sinning . She’s such a prude.”
Garret runs his hand through his hair. “Sorry.”
She shakes her head. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Nine
By Monday I decide I’m overreacting. Again. So what if she didn’t ask me for a ride? Keira was totally into me that night. She smiled and leaned her head on my shoulder and everything. She talked to me first at Parker’s, and she approved of my anime watching. She only asked Garret for a ride because I was already home and she didn’t want to inconvenience me. That makes sense.
I shove a few books in my locker, telling myself to snap out of it. It’s only been a week. Garret might move fast, but the cross-clique issues have to slow him down. He can’t talk and flirt with her at school like he can with a cheerleader.
“Russ!” Mercedes calls. Holly Lark is
“Hey!” I rub the spot. “What was that for? I didn’t say it!”
“You brought it up!” She shoves me. “Do I have to repeat what I did to you during the final episode of Inuyasha? I seem to remember you whimpering like a baby after I—”
“Stop!” My face burns as I involuntarily wince at the memory. She’s referring to the one and only time I said her last name out loud—the night that ended with an icepack on my crotch. “Okay! Sorry! I’m man enough to admit you beat me up, so please spare the details.”
She softens the littlest bit and doesn’t say more.
“As you can see, Keira,” Colin says, his legs crossed tighter than necessary, “I strongly recommend not messing with Daphne.”
Daphne folds her arms behind her head, totally satisfied with herself. “Yeah, I’m Izzy’s bouncer.”
We settle in with our snacks just as Izzy’s timer goes off. That very second, she presses play and sits next to Colin. Then we watch, and watch. Except half the time I’m wondering if anything’s going to happen with Garret and Keira. So far, Garret hasn’t even dared rest his hand behind her on the couch. Maybe he’s off his game. He has to feel out of place here with The Dork Squad.
At the first break, they rag on him when he asks about the teardrops and squiggly lines above the characters’ heads. He doesn’t talk much after that.
They pass out fast tonight. It’s barely three. Garret’s watching the TV intently, but he has his head in one hand like it will fall off if he doesn’t hold it up. He may be a noob, but he does seem determined to like anime. Trent’s snoring in the recliner. Daphne’s head crashed into my shoulder a little while ago and I don’t have the heart to move it. Besides, it looks like Keira might be headed the same direction.
Her head bobs forward, and she snaps it back up. Then she leans it back against the couch and closes her eyes. Ever so slowly, her face inches diagonally toward my shoulder. My skin tingles with anticipation. Then her cheek presses against me and I can’t breathe.
Tonight rocks.
Izzy turns off the TV when the episode ends, since most everyone’s asleep. She closes her eyes and stuffs a pillow behind her head. I’m not moving for anything, even if I’m slightly uncomfortable with Daphne on my other side. She’s never done that to me before, but she’s accidentally fallen asleep on Trent and Colin. I’m usually in the recliner.
A phone rings, and all the sleepers shoot straight up.
“Oh, shit!” Keira digs around in her purse. “What time is it?”
“Past three,” I say above the groans from everyone else.
“Mom?” Keira says when she answers it. “I’m sorry. I lost track of time and fell—” She rolls her eyes. “Their parents are here. It’s not like we’re having some massive orgy.” She puts her hand over the receiver. “Can you give me a ride home, Garr?”
Garret perks up. “Sure.”
“I’m coming right now. I have a ride, so you don’t even have to put on your slippers. See how nice I am? Bye.” She hangs up, standing abruptly. “My mom thinks we’re all naked over here— sinning . She’s such a prude.”
Garret runs his hand through his hair. “Sorry.”
She shakes her head. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Nine
By Monday I decide I’m overreacting. Again. So what if she didn’t ask me for a ride? Keira was totally into me that night. She smiled and leaned her head on my shoulder and everything. She talked to me first at Parker’s, and she approved of my anime watching. She only asked Garret for a ride because I was already home and she didn’t want to inconvenience me. That makes sense.
I shove a few books in my locker, telling myself to snap out of it. It’s only been a week. Garret might move fast, but the cross-clique issues have to slow him down. He can’t talk and flirt with her at school like he can with a cheerleader.
“Russ!” Mercedes calls. Holly Lark is
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