Read Twisted for Free Online Page B

circling my car like automotive vultures hungry for a better look.
    My brain started to glaze over and my hearing grew fuzzy. The comments about 6 cylinders versus V-8s, tranny specs, horsepower and other foreign words swirled around me.
    “I bet there’s some rumble in those babies,” someone said.
    I realized questions were being thrown at me but I continued to tune it all out.
    “Dudes!” Phoebe interjected, stepping to my rescue. “Did you not notice the perfectly plucked eyebrows? And look at this manicure!” she exclaimed as she held up my dangling fingers for them to see. “Does this look like the hand of a know-it-all grease monkey?”
    Most of the motor heads backed away but one stepped closer.
    “I’m Blake,” the guy with all of the hair gel said. He threw an arm around my shoulder. “You can take me for a ride anytime.” Hailey’s jaw dropped and a green Jolly Rancher tumbled out.
    She recovered quickly. “Blake, this is Maya. She’s a really good friend of mine.” She turned to me and I swear I could practically see little cartoon hearts pulsating in her eyes. “Maya, maybe you could take us both for a ride tonight? It’s a gorgeous day for a drive with the top down!”
    Apparently she decided my car wasn’t too old after all. Not that it mattered.
    No matter how tamed my curls are at the start, add a bit of wind to my hair and I have a volatile combination. One spin through town with the top down and you may as well pop me on a post and put me in a cornfield. I wasn’t about to admit all of that so I just said, “I’d love to but I have plans with Remy after school.” It was just a tiny fib. The plans consisted of me eating a Pop-Tart while waiting for Remy to roll out of bed so I could tell her about my day.
    It was then that I saw Ben. He parked in the furthest spot in the back of the lot. His eyes flitted to me, with Blake’s arm still wrapped tight. Then his glance darted away so quickly I wasn’t sure he’d even really seen me at all. However, he did give my car a good three second gawk which was more than he’d ever bothered to give me.
    Blake was making the inevitable comment about ’69 being the first year for quad headlights. All I really heard was a monotone drone of nothingness. I ducked out of his grip and stepped aside. I watched as Ben strolled away. He never once stopped to talk to anyone. Hailey had begun sucking on her Ring-Pop. Her eyes were narrowed and scrutinizing.
    “Don’t bother,” she said.
    I turned to her, the epitome of wide-eyed innocence. “Excuse me?”
    She motioned with her head. “That guy? Ben? The look you gave him was so hot you could’ve baked me a batch of cookies with it.”
    The only thing hot at that moment were my cheeks. I could feel them flaming red. I opened my mouth to protest but she cut me off.
    “Don’t waste your time. He’s completely off limits. It’s a total waste of male perfection but that’s just how it is.” She sighed and stuck the ring back into her mouth.
    I’d forgotten Olivia was there. She was off to the side but she slid up to Hailey.
    “You think so?” she asked. “I think he’s just plain creepy.”  She wore a corresponding look on her face to prove it. She kept her eyes on Ben. As if afraid he might backtrack and attack at any moment.
    I felt my entire body bristle in irritation. I wasn’t even sure why. It wasn’t as though Ben was actually a friend of mine.
    Phoebe stepped in, sensing the sudden tension. “We better get going. I have Mrs. Toftum first hour. She lets us pick our seats but then we’re stuck there for the whole year. Last year I got there late. I had to sit next to Tate Douglas for nine months. He picks off his scabs and pulls out eyelashes when he gets bored.” She shuddered at the memory.
    Olivia nodded, seemingly anxious to move away from the subject of Ben McCaffey.
    Hailey bobbed her head in agreement as well. I realized the chunky streaks of red that adorned her hair at