Read Fake Boyfriend - Kate Brian for Free Online Page B

Type!"

    "Well... I ... who is this guy?" Marshall asked, sinking down into the chair slightly.

    "He's a drummer. Very cool. Kind of monosyllabic and, you know, hot," Lane said.

    "So your complete opposite," Vivi put in, cocking her head to the side.

    "Vivi!" Lane said through her teeth. "But he's also smart,

    44

    and well read. Just like you." Lane told him. "Please, Marshall? Pretty please?"

    Behind her, Vivi scoffed. She couldn't believe she was letting this happen. But she knew that if she tried to IM with Isabelle, she would say something personal that would give her away, and she couldn't let that happen. Marshall was as good a choice as any. He'd barely ever said a word to Isabelle, anyway, so there was no way he could reveal himself.

    "Fine," Marshall said finally, though he looked ready to hurl. "Monosyllabic, huh?"

    "Y es!" Lane said.

    Marshall cleared his throat and wiped his palms on his black sweatpants. He typed and hit send.

    Brandon: I'm here.

    "Well, I could have come up with that!" Vivi chided. "Shhhh!" Lane said.

    IzzyBelly: Nothing to do in Connecticut on Fridays?

    "Connecticut?" Marshall asked, looking at Lane for guidance.

    "That's where he's from," Lane replied.

    She sat down on the extra chair and pulled it closer to the desk. Vivi picked up her purple beanbag chair and dropped it next to Marshall, settling in on his other side. Marshall's fingers trembled as they hovered over the keys.

    Brandon: Probably about as much as there is to do in Jersey. IzzyBelly: Touche. child)

    45

    Vivi laughed and clapped her hands together. "She likes it!"

    Both Marshall and Lane visibly relaxed.

    "Still think this was a bad idea?" Vivi asked Lane, peeking around Marshall.

    "We'll see," Lane said, trying to stifle a smile.

    "Oh, please. Operation Skewer Sluttig is in full effect, and it was all me," Vivi said with a sniff, crossing her arms over her chest. "Geniuses are never appreciated in their own time."

    46

    46

    * * * * four * * * *

    Lane pressed her lips together and checked out her gloss in her locker mirror, then smoothed the front of her new floaty, baby blue blouse from Anthropologic Normally she wouldn't wear something so special to school, but today, she had a date with Curtis. Well, not a date, exactly. They were studying for their Calc exam the next day. But they were going to walk home from school together and hang out until dinner, which was a nice chunk of one- on-one Curtis in one day. Her heart went all fluttery just thinking about it, and she had no idea how she was supposed to get through eight whole class periods. She felt like she might not actually be able to wait. Like she might spontaneously combust in the process.

    "Lane!"

    She flinched, feeling as if she'd been caught at something, then realized all she'd been doing was standing at her locker. Vivi barreled toward her, all bright eyes and smiles, paying

    47

    no attention to the pack of freshmen who had to dodge out of her way to avoid being trampled. She was wearing her jeans and a fitted blue American Eagle hoodie, and her hair was smoothed back in a headband and brushed to a gloss. This was a good-mood outfit for Vivi. She never spent more than five minutes in front of a mirror unless she was in a very happy place.

    "Hey! So, did you talk to Isabelle yet?" Vivi asked, leaning against the locker next to Lane's.

    Lane smiled slightly. When Vivi was in the midst of a plan, it was pretty much all she talked about. All she thought about. Basically, the plan became her life.

    "I talked to her last night," Lane told her blithely. Because she knew that being blithe and vague would drive Vivi crazy.

    "Well? How did she sound? Did she mention Brandon?" Vivi whispered, glancing over her shoulder.

    "Nope," Lane said, slowly taking her books out of her upper locker.

    "No? Come on. Y ou've got to be kidding. She and Marshall IM'D all freaking weekend. I barely left my room, keeping an eye on him," Vivi said, turning