Read Bite Me for Free Online

a response.
    “Okay, it doesn’t get easier. I was talking social life, though. Are people still going to be so mean and clique-ish next year? Or is it cliqueoriented? Clique-y?” Now I was babbling. “I’m starting to get desperate for company.”
    She agreed with a sigh. “So many people here are just terrible, aren’t they? It’s that way everywhere. You’re a nice girl, Dianne–at least in actions if not always in words. You’re smart, and work hard at your strengths, and love your parents. It logically follows that you don’t stand a chance.”
    I gave her a sort of shoulder squeeze, not wanting to make her come into full contact with my icky, sweaty self. She was the only friend I could hug, and might soon become my only friend at all. “I’m so glad I have you to talk to.”
    “I’m hearing ya. I wouldn’t know what to do these days without you, Art, and Joy.” Those were her two best friends in the junior class.
When we reached Common Lane, I saw a moving van pulling into our block. Could someone finally be moving into 7760? Taylor elected to leave the residents alone so they could settle in, but my curiosity wasn’t patient enough for that. Dodging the movers maneuvering furniture into the end house, I went over to the side yard where I thought I’d seen someone.
A teenage boy was there, leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets. He was about my height and was neither skinny nor fat; just medium. Dark eyes just teetering on the edge of being black and sandy almost-but-not-quite-blond hair made a striking contrast. He was staring into space, unaware of my approach. I suddenly became conscious of the rips in my jeans and the stains on my shirt, and wanted to take my relatively clean sweater back out of my bag.
This is silly , I thought, putting on a friendly smile. “Hi. My name’s Dianne and I live next door. Are you moving in?” Urgh. Could I sound any lamer?
He smiled back. “Yeah. Nice of you to come over. My parents are in the house, and my little brothers are still with my grandparents for a few days. I’m Matt. The last name is Spiralli and please don’t make any jokes about spirals.”
“Don’t worry. My last name is Anghel, so people keep pronouncing it ‘Angel’ and teasing me about that.”
“Dianne Anghel. Cool. I would say I’m pleased to meet you, but I’m still reeling from the move. I’m supposed to start going to Laconia High tomorrow.”
“That’s my school. If you’re in my grade I can show you around.”
“I’m in tenth grade.”
I restrained the impulse to shout, “Yippee! Prospect of friend! Someone who at least will talk to me for one day!” Instead, I said, “Me too. You better have a guide or the popular crowd will eat you alive.”
“That bad?”
“I don’t want to scare you away. Mainly it’s that I’m not in their good graces, which makes them scarier. Or should I be telling you this?”
“It’s okay. I never was popular myself. Thanks for the offer. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
“Okay. Um, yeah. Okay. Yeah. Now that I’m done sounding like an idiot. . .”
Matthew laughed. “You don’t.”
When I went in, Dad was lying on the couch, listening to a Coldplay CD. “I’m glad to see you cheerful again,” he murmured. “What’s the occasion?”
“We have neigh-ay-bors on the other side no-ow,” I sang as nicely as I could. Which isn’t very melodious, but oh well.
Mom came home soon after I did. She actually could’ve given me a ride, but I had wanted to see Taylor, so we went home separately. In the morning, she had been coughing a little; now she was coughing uncontrollably. My parents shared the couch while I juggled homework and getting cough syrup and drinks for Mom.
“Aren’t you worried about being contagious, Dad?” I noticed that he was curled up next to his dozing wife, who was drowsy from the medicine. It was kind of sweet.
“I haven’t been infected or passed on anything for eighteen