Read Online The Outsider by Melinda Metz - Free Book Online Page A

be — she was Max’s sister. Liz knew they were both adopted, and they looked practically like twins. Liz stared around the quad. Were Max and Isabel the only two aliens at school? Or were there aliens everywhere, and she just hadn’t known about it?
    â€œCome on,” Maria said. “Details, Alex.”
    â€œOkay, but try not to laugh.” Alex looked embarrassed. “I was at the homecoming dance with Isabel — and we were the homecoming king and queen. We had on the crowns and everything.”
    â€œOh, stop. I’m going to hurl.” Maria made loud barfing sounds.
    â€œWhat do you think? Is it a sign? Should I try and get up the guts to, like, talk to her or something?” Alex asked.
    â€œNo!” Liz blurted.
    Alex looked hurt.
    But Liz couldn’t worry about his feelings. She’d suddenly remembered something about Isabel. The other day, at Max’s house, Isabel had stared at Liz with pure hatred.
    She’s afraid I’m going to betray Max, Liz realized. And if people discovered Max was an alien, they’d know Isabel was one, too. Liz’s stomach began to tingle. Isabel must be terrified. No wonder she hated Liz. Would she come after me? Liz wondered. Try to hurt my friends?
    Liz didn’t know. But she did know one thing — she didn’t want Alex anywhere near Isabel.
    â€œIt’s just that, like Maria said, she treats guys like dirt,” Liz told Alex. “You deserve better.”
    â€œI guess you’re right,” Alex said. But Liz noticed he was staring at Isabel when he said it.
    â€œI have this craving for a doughnut. Want to go to the doughnut place?” Max asked. He ate the last bite of his burger and shoved the tray across the cafeteria table.
    â€œBut that would mean . . . cutting school.” Michael opened his gray eyes wide and stared at Max with mock horror.
    Max sniffed the air. “Can you smell them? Can you smell the crullers sliding out of the oven?” He pulled a couple of packets of hot sauce out of his jacket pocket and waved them in front of his friend’s face. He knew crullers with hot sauce were Michael’s favorite.
    â€œI have a history test, and I would not think of jeopardizing my education for a cruller,” Michael said primly.
    â€œHave you ever had one when they’re still hot, because I think today is cruller baking day,” Max said.
    â€œDo you think I’m that easy?” Michael demanded. “Besides, it’s not like you can hide from the girl for the rest of your life.”
    â€œYeah, you’re right.” Max didn’t bother to pretend that he didn’t know who Michael was talking about.
    The bell rang. “I kind of like giving you advice for a change,” Michael said as they headed out.
    â€œDon’t get too used to it,” Max answered. He started up the stairs to his advanced placement bio class. Would Liz even be there? He’d thought about bailing — why wouldn’t she?
    Max couldn’t decide if he hoped she’d be there or not. He wanted to see her and make sure she was okay. But he couldn’t take it if she looked at him the way she did on Saturday, all scared and weirded out and . . . and
repulsed.
Man, he would never forget the expression on her face.
    He hesitated outside the door. Don’t be a wuss, he told himself, and stepped inside. Liz was there. He should have known she wouldn’t cut. She wasn’t really the kind of person who backed away from things.
    He knew she noticed him come in — her shoulders tensed a little, and the sickly yellow steaks that still marred her amber aura grew a little darker. But she didn’t look up. She kept her eyes focused on the lab table as she set up their microscope.
    Max took a detour to check on the lab mice. Admit it, he thought as he fed them a few pieces of celery. You’re stalling. “Wish me luck,” he whispered to Fred, his