Read Revenge of the Geek for Free Online Page B

find Hannah. She was in her lilac-painted room, sitting behind a white lacquered desk, typing away on her laptop.
    “Hey. Are you busy?”I asked, hesitating at the door.
    Hannah looked up. “Not really. Do you know anything about computers?”
    “Just the basics. Why, is your laptop broken?”I asked, taking a seat on the edge of her white canopy bed.
    “No, it’s fine. I need to start a Web site,”Hannah said.
    “For what?”
    Hannah frowned at me. “What do you think?”
    I tried to think of what she was up to lately that would require a Web site, and came up blank.
    “Seriously, I have no idea,”I said. “Give me a hint.”
    “My new matchmaking business,”Hannah said.
    “Oh, right,”I said. I’d forgotten about Hannah’s new project. She’d decided to start a matchmaking service for Orange Cove High School students. It all started over the summer when she tried to help Charlie attract Finn’s attention. The fact that it didn’t work out, and that Finn continued to date his bubbleheaded girlfriend, Phoebe McLeod, hadn’t in any way diminished Hannah’s enthusiasm for this new project. She was convinced her destiny was to be a modern-day Cupid. Minus the diaper and bag of arrows.
    “Are you really at the Web site stage?”I asked.
    “This is a business. Marketing is everything ,”Hannah said.
    “You’re going to charge people for setting them up?”I asked.
    “Of course! If I don’t, no one will take it seriously,”Hannah said.
    “So, what’re you going to do? Put your clients’photos up on your Web site with a click here if you’re interested button?”I asked.
    “Please tell me you’re not serious,”Hannah said with a disdainful sniff.
    I shrugged one shoulder. “I have no idea how dating Web sites work. Enlighten me.”
    “First of all, it’s not a dating Web site. Those are for losers,”Hannah said.
    “Very nice,”I said sarcastically.
    “We’re offering a professional matchmaking service that will give our clients individualized attention as we help them find the perfect, high-quality boyfriend or girlfriend,”Hannah said, looking pleased with herself. I had the feeling she’d practiced this spiel. Probably in front of a mirror.
    “High-quality?”I repeated. “You do know you’re talking about people and not handbags, right?”
    “That’s your problem, Miranda. You want to believe that we live in a world where looks and popularity don’t matter,”Hannah said.
    “I just think that there are qualities that should matter more. Like how nice a person is, or whether they have a good sense of humor,”I said.
    “Don’t worry, we’re definitely going to factor in personality,”Hannah assured me. “After all, lots of pretty girls fall for average-looking guys with great personalities. Think of all the ugly rock stars out there who end up with hot wives.”Her forehead furrowed. “It doesn’t really work the other way, though. Good-looking guys will always pick dull, pretty girls over funny, ugly ones. I should probably make a note of that.”Hannah picked up her pencil and jotted down a note in a pink patent leather notebook, muttering as she did so, “Hot guys with hot girls only. Hot girls may date down, but only if he’s got a great personality.”She underlined the word great three times.
    I rolled my eyes. “That is so shallow.”
    “Shallow, but true,”Hannah said, shutting the journal. “How’s Dex? I thought I heard you talking to him.”
    “Yeah, I was. He’s good,”I said. “I guess.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “I don’t think he’s very happy at school,”I said.
    “Really? Maybe if he hates it enough, he’ll come home,”Hannah suggested. “That would be cool.”
    “But I want him to do well. And I want him to be happy,”I said.
    Hannah waved an airy hand. “In that case, don’t worry. I’m sure he’ll be fine. He’ll make friends and settle in, and then he’ll probably never want to come home.”
    “Is that supposed to