Read Online The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green - Free Book Online Page B

started calling Chris “the Unabollmer.” People thought it was funny, the name caught on, and suddenly, after being ignored for years, Chris Bollmer was actively considered a freak again.
    But the point is, Lindsay was never friends with Chris Bollmer. Not before he blew himself up, and not after. She’d never even spoken to the guy. Not once. Not even a hello when she passed him in the hallway. But when all of this craziness with Megan started, Chris decided that he would be the one person (besides me and Samantha) who would dare to be friends with Lindsay. I don’t know if he felt a sense of solidarity with her because they both had horrible nicknames, or if he felt some kind of connection because they both shared the same social outcast status, or if he just has a major crush that he couldn’t contain any longer.
    Whatever the reason, he suddenly started talking to her at school and sending her emails, as if they’ve been friends for years. Poor Lindsay tries to be nice to him, but sometimes she gets fed up and snaps at him like an angry turtle. Not that I blame her. I mean, it does not help her cause in any way to be seen talking to the Unabollmer. Especially not right now, in the middle of the cafeteria.
    â€œOh boy,” Lindsay says as the two of us spot him making a beeline toward us. “Here we go again.” She puts her hand up over her face and turns her back to him. But Chris just walks right up and taps her on the shoulder.
    â€œHi, Lindsay,” he says, really loudly. In the line behind us are three kids from my physics class: Lizzie McNeal, Cole Miller, and Matt Shipley, a trio known for being more gossipy than Perez Hilton. They stop talking as soon as Chris opens his mouth, no doubt hoping to pick up a juicy tidbit or two to spread around later on. Reluctantly, Lindsay turns around.
    â€œOh. Hi, Chris,” she says.
    â€œUm, yeah, I just wanted to tell you good luck on the English test today. It’s a big one.”
    I feel kind of sorry for him. I mean, you just know that he sat in his room for hours last night trying to come up with a reason to talk to her, until he finally hit on good luck on the English test . I brace myself as I wait for Lindsay to react—will she tolerate him today, or will she go all Teenage Mutant Ninja Lindsay on him? I exhale with relief as she kind of half-smiles and pretends that wishing someone good luck on a test is not a totally pathetic pretext for making conversation.
    â€œThanks, Chris. You too. It’s going to be a hard one.”
    Lindsay and I both glance back at Lizzie, Cole, and Matt, who are holding their hands in front of their mouths and whispering to each other already. Lindsay looks desperately toward the front of the line, and I know she’s praying to get out of this situation before it turns into the top news story of the day. But then Megan Crowley appears out of nowhere, smiling her wicked, evil, torturous smile.
    â€œWell, well, well,” Megan says. “What do we have here? Is it Fart Girl and the Unabollmer? Together? What a cute couple!”
    Megan is surrounded by her usual flunkies—Brittany Fox, Madison Duncan, and Chloe Carlyle—three dumb, cookie-cutter fellow cheerleaders who follow Megan around and do whatever she says. No exaggeration, just as if they walked straight out of a teen movie. A bad teen movie. The pathetic thing is, they’re so stupid, they don’t even realize how cliché they are.
    Lindsay lowers her eyes to avoid having to look at Megan, but Chris stares right at her, practically daring her to start in on them.
    â€œJust stop it, Megan,” Lindsay says softly.
    â€œWhat was that? Did you just tell me not to talk trash about your boyfriend?”
    â€œHe’s not my boyfriend,” Lindsay insists, louder this time. She glances at Lizzie, Matt, and Cole, who are watching the whole thing unfold, wide-eyed.
    â€œWhat?!” Megan screams.