Read Freestyle with Avery for Free Online Page B

open. Marty … a scaredy-cat?
What was wrong with this picture
?!
    Kazie’s mouth curled a little. It wasn’t a smile … but not quite a frown either. She totally thought this was funny. “Told you,” she said with a shrug. Farkle suddenly raced into the kitchen, and Kazie followed him.
    Andie just groaned as Farkle skidded to a stop inside the kitchen doorway. “Honestly, Kazie. When are you going to let me call in an animal tamer for Farkle?” She turned to me. “I don’t get what she sees in that cat. Personally, it gives me the heebie-jeebies!”
Maybe Andie isn’t so bad after all,
I thought.
    Kazie looked annoyed. “Farkle’s a
he
, not an
it
, Mom. And he’s actually really sweet. You just don’t know how to handle him.”
    Dad walked over with a tray of drinks, ignoring the possible dog-cat war. “Who wants a root beer float? I know
someone
in here does!”
    Kazie squealed. “Sweet, dude! Jake the Snake, you remembered my fave!” She grabbed one of the glasses filled with ice cream and root beer.
    “Here you go, Ave.” Dad held the tray in front of me.
    “No thanks, Dad. You know I don’t really like soda.”
    Dad glanced at Andie. “Still? I thought …”
    “You don’t like soda?” Kazie interrupted. “Who doesn’t like soda?”
    I shrugged. “I dunno. Soda just tastes funny to me.” I walked over to the fridge, grabbed a bottle of spring water, and took a big swig.
    “Avery’s a really healthy eater, right Ave?” Dad explained. “That’s why I made vegetarian lasagna.”
    “Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold the phone. You don’t likemeat, either?” Kazie stared at me like I was from another planet or something.
    “I like some meat. I eat turkey wraps all the time,” I told Kazie. “Just not usually steak. I mean of course I like Fat Alley burgers—”
    “OMG, I live on them!” Kazie took a long slurp of her float. “How could you
not like
meat?” she repeated.
    “I said—” I began, but Dad interrupted.
    “Ladies and … well … ladies. Dinner is served,” he announced. He looked so proud of himself that Kazie, Andie, and I all cracked up.
    “Yes, master chef.
Merci!
” Andie replied.
    Sitting down to dinner at the table in the family room was a relief. Everyone filled their plates and dug in.
    “This is off-the-hook delish, Snurfman … way better than Mom’s,” Kazie said with her mouth full of eggplant.
    “Hey!” Andie warned playfully.
    “Dad’s an awesome cook,” I told them. “So is my big brother Scott. He’s actually at culinary school right now…. Or else he’d be here now. My mom’s definitely more of a takeout type.”
    “Mine too,” agreed Kazie.
    Andie blushed. “I hear you’re a quite a good boarder, Avery,” she said, probably wanting to change the subject. “Are you going to enter the competition?”
    “Already did!” I exclaimed.
    Kazie took a bite of garlic bread and licked the butter off her fingers. “Right on. Snurfer Competition,
hollaaa
! I’m going for number one. Check out my Donnie Keelerimpression.” She jumped up and did a ho-ho , planting both hands on her pretend snowboard.
    “Not during dinner, Kazie!” Andie shook her head and sighed. “I’ve never had that much energy in my entire life. I don’t know where she gets it.”
    I didn’t know either. And also, if Kazie was in the same division as me, I didn’t know if I had a prayer at the Snurfer. At least not after what I’d seen today.
    “Don’t move,” Andie said when everyone had finished the main course. “I brought dessert.”
    Andie ran to the kitchen and returned with the large foil-covered platter. She put down the plate and took off the foil. Dessert was … cheese?
    “Here ve go. Ze plate of ze fabulouso cheeses of ze vorld!” Andie declared in a funny fake accent.
    Kazie didn’t look happy though. “Party foul, Mom!” she groaned. “I thought you were bringing
cheesecake
… not
cheese
. This is soooo not a dessert. Right, Avery?”
    “Um