Read Playlist for the Dead for Free Online Page B

about it,” I said.
    “That’s probably for the best. First day back?”
    I nodded, wanting to think of something witty to say, but I had nothing. “Do we have the same lunch period?”
    “Looks like it, Captain Obvious.” She grinned, but I still felt like an idiot. “Want to come sit with my friends?” She pointed at a table a few rows over and back from where I was sitting. There was a group of kids there I’d seen before, part of the artsy crowd. They spent a lot of time in the studio on the upper level and at a coffee shop in South Branch, the next town over, listening to slam poetry or whatever. It wasn’t my scene. I wasn’t even sure what slam poetry was.
    “No, it’s okay,” I said, trying to dab at the relish without making more of a mess.
    “Why not?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.
    Could she not see that I’d just made a total mess of myself? I tried to think of something normal to say. “Um, new people, you know. Not sure I’m ready. I mean,” I panicked, “not you or anything. I just—” I could tell I wasn’t succeeding at trying to sound normal.
    “I get it,” she said, tugging at a red streak I hadn’t remembered being in her hair the other day. I wondered how she knew exactly where it was until I realized it was an extension. How awesome, to be able to change the color of your hair whenever you wanted. She was wearing bright red lipstick to match and it made her eyes look almost unnaturally green. “You should give them a chance sometime, though. They kind of adopted me when I needed some new friends.”
    She didn’t have to add “like you do”—it was implied. I wondered why she’d have needed new friends, but I wasn’t sure how to ask. I looked back over at the table and saw Eric sitting there. Great.
    “Don’t get all judgmental because they’re into different stuff than you are. I’ll tell you the same thing I told Hayden: I bet you have more in common with some of them than you think.”
    Instantly I felt a burst of jealousy, which was ridiculous. Like retroactively, as if Hayden had already found better, cooler friends and left me behind.
    Except that’s not how he’d left me behind. His way was worse.
    “How did you know him?” I asked. I guess the easiest way was just to say it.
    “Hayden?” She hesitated. “Oh, you know. From around. School, you know.”
    But Hayden wasn’t really around. And I was sure he’d have told me if someone like her was in his classes. Was she even in the same grade as us? For some reason she didn’t want to tell me how she knew him, but I had no idea why.
    “Come over and sit,” she said, still twirling her hair extension. “Maybe you need new friends too.” She must have seen the look on my face, though, because she added, “I’m not trying to get you to replace Hayden.”
    “I know,” I said. I didn’t want her to think I wasn’t interested, but I just couldn’t handle meeting a whole bunch of new people. I wasn’t feeling ready yet. It was confusing enough just meeting her. “But not today, okay? Some other time?”
    “I’ll hold you to that,” she said, though I wasn’t sure she really meant it until she added, “There’s a party Friday night. Give me your phone.”
    “Anyone ever tell you you’re kind of bossy?” I said, but I handed my phone over. Our hands touched as she took it from me, and I could swear I felt a spark. It was probably just static.
    She smiled again, and the jewel in her lip ring glittered. “All the time. See you Friday.”
    I didn’t want her to leave, though. “So I watched that movie you told me about? Donnie Darko ?”
    “And? What did you think?” She leaned forward and looked right at me. It seemed like she was actually interested.
    Except now I had to say something interesting. I wasn’t sure what, but I’d brought it up, so I had to say something . Still—time travel, giant rabbits? It was kind of hard to follow. I knew the main character ultimately died, but he