Dead End Job Read Online Free Page A

you know where D’Eon’s Diner is?” I asked.
    â€œThat greasy spoon out by the fish plant? I love that place. It’s so 1962!”
    â€œGreat. See you there at 12:30 then.”
    Devin was right. D’Eon’s Diner is so 1962. I’m sure most of the décor—and all of the coleslaw—is at least that old. But Kyla and I love it. No one from the high school ever bothers to go that far for lunch, and the seafood chowder is actually pretty good.
    Kyla and I got there at about 12:15 so we could get a good booth. I sat facing the door. The seat backs are so high that I had to keep sticking my head out in the aisle to watch for Devin.
    Kyla was nervous.
    â€œDo I look all right?” she said.
    She was wearing her usual mismatched Thrift Shop clothes. She had this thing tiedaround her head, but her hair still looked pretty wild. I mean that in a good way.
    â€œYou look fabulous, darling,” I said. “Why are you so worried?”
    Kyla pulled at her curls so her hair wouldn’t be flat on top.
    â€œI don’t know. This guy just sounds too good to be true. Rich. Artistic. Musical. Not ugly. When would I ever find another guy like that in Lockeport?”
    I felt bad then. Maybe I should have been a little more honest about Devin. It wouldn’t help Kyla’s chances if she acted like he was too good for her.
    I didn’t have time to do anything about it. Devin walked in the door carrying a big plastic bag. I called him over. He had this huge smile on his face—until he slipped into the booth and saw Kyla.
    He looked at her like she was a rotting corpse or something. He actually jumped back out of the booth.
    This was bad.
    I tried to laugh as if it was a joke and said, “Kyla, this is Devin.”
    â€œHi,” she said. “Nice to meet you.” I could tell by the look on her face that it wasn’t nice at all.
    â€œHi,” he said. He didn’t look at either of us. He held his package against his chest and kind of glanced around the room. He was all fidgety. He said, “Ah, sorry. Look. I just came in to say I can’t stay. Sorry. Have a good lunch. See ya.” And he left.
    I put this big smile on my face and turned back to Kyla.
    â€œWell,” I said. “That didn’t go so well now, did it?”
    â€œNo, it was great!” Kyla said. “I think we really hit it off!” She grabbed her purse and slid out of the booth. I could tell she was going to cry.
    â€œKyla …” I said.
    She got up and looked at me as if she hated me. “Do me a favor,” she said. “Don’t try setting me up again. Like, how desperate do you think I am?”
    I tried to apologize, but she was really ranting by now. All the guys from the fish plant turned and stared.
    â€œWhat were you thinking?” She practically spat at me. “Oh, I know. ‘He may be a psycho, but he’s a
single
psycho. He’d be perfect for Kyla!’ Thanks for your confidence in me, Frances.”
    I couldn’t stop her. She stormed out of the diner. She didn’t even slow down to steal a handful of mints from the waitress station like she usually does.
    Everyone went back to their meals. I sat in the booth and stared at the red leatherette seat. Kyla was right. What was I thinking? I should have gone with my first instinct. The one that told me Devin was not the type of guy to get mixed up with.

Chapter Seven
    I headed back to school. I felt terrible. When I had a problem I could usually talk to Leo or Kyla about it. This time, I was clearly on my own.
    I’d just turned onto Pleasant Point Road when I saw Devin barreling back toward me. He didn’t look very happy.
    â€œWhat was all that about?” he said.
    â€œAll what?” I said, although I really didn’t want to know.
    â€œWhat’s the idea of bringing that girl to lunch with us?”
    I didn’t have an answer. Right then it didn’t