Audition & Subtraction Read Online Free Page B

auditioning for District Honor Band.”
    â€œHe said that?”
    She nodded. “I guess music is a big deal in his family. His parents are divorced, and his dad plays trombone in an orchestra in New York.”
    â€œWow.” My throat tightened. “So he’s good, huh?”
    â€œMaybe,” she admitted. “But he also said he’s only been serious for about two years. Except …” She reached for more brownie, then stopped and crossed her arms over her chest.
    â€œExcept what?”
    â€œYou have to keep those brownies away from me. You shouldn’t have made them in the first place.”
    â€œI know, but we always used to make brownies every Saturday. Remember? I figured one brownie wouldn’t kill us.”
    â€œI’m not worried about dying. I’m worried about fat thighs.”
    â€œYou don’t have fat thighs.”
    â€œI do, too. Michael showed me a scar on his leg, and all I could think about was how my thighs are nearly as big as his.”
    â€œHe showed you a scar? On his leg?” I made a face as I stuck the plate on my bedside table.
    She rolled her eyes. “It wasn’t bloody and scabbed over. It was just an old scar by his knee. He has nice knees,” she added. “They’re not all skinny and white.”
    â€œNice
kneeees
?” I said, drawing out the word.
    Lori’s mouth tightened.
    â€œWhat?” I said. “I’m just joking.”
    â€œWell, it’s not funny.”
    â€œSorry,” I said, but it felt like she’d changed the rules of a game without telling me. This morning she’d promised to hate Michael as much as I did—and suddenly she liked his knees? But I let it go, and instead I said, “So go back a minute. What did you mean—
except.
Except what?”
    She twisted the end of her braid around one finger. “His mom already looked into the program at AdobeHigh for next year. He knows about Dr. Hallady and the Wind Ensemble.”
    â€œHe wants to be in Wind Ensemble?”
    She nodded again. “He even asked me about summer music camps. Plus,” she added, leaning forward, “it turns out he was at the New York Philharmonic last June, the exact same time when I was there. And get this—Mozart is his favorite composer, too.”
    â€œYou asked him his favorite composer?”
    â€œNo,” she said, her eyes widening. “He asked me mine!”
    â€œWow.” I wrapped my arms around my knees. “Okay.” I wasn’t really sure what to say. “Freakingtastic” was the only thing that came to mind.
    Then her lips stretched into a slow, secret smile. “He asked for my phone number. He typed it right into his cell.”
    â€œYou gave it to him?” My stomach flipped in a not-so-good way. “Did you ask for his number?”
    â€œNo.” She sat up a little straighter. “Was I supposed to?”
    â€œI don’t know. If you liked him, I guess. I mean, do you like him?”
    â€œI only just met him.”
    â€œThen why did you give him your cell number?”
    â€œI was just being nice.” She rolled onto her stomach, pulling a pillow beneath her chin. “Besides, I might like him in the future.”
    â€œSo now you’re planning to like him?”
    â€œI don’t know,” she said. “What does it even mean to like a guy? Misa likes Sam, and they break up every other week. Kerry says she likes Caleb, but not enough to wear the necklace he got her.”
    â€œIt was a skeleton head. I wouldn’t wear it, either.”
    â€œYou know what I mean.”
    â€œYeah,” I admitted. “It would be easier if it were scientific. Like a math formula that told you if you liked a guy.” I grabbed my pillow and slid onto my stomach until I was even with Lori. “Good smile + cute butt × sense of humor = Like.”
    Lori laughed. “It’s too bad Mr. Phillips