Girl Mans Up Read Online Free Page A

things.”
    â€œYa, ya. You talk and talk just for the . . .” She starts over in Portuguese, saying I only want to do things that I know she won’t be into, that she doesn’t know anything about, and I do it all on purpose. When I try to respond, she waves me off and huffs and puffs her way back to the living room.
    â€œDoes she try to teach you how to do laundry and make food?” I ask Johnny.
    He sighs like, You know what she’s like . “Let’s get outta here, little sister. I got a full day. I’m gonna pick you up at three fifteen later, so be ready out front.”
    Sometimes I wish I could ditch school and go work with Johnny, instead of having to wait all day to go help him after school. I’m pretty sure I learn a whole lot more being around him, anyway.
    DURING FOURTH PERIOD, I put Mr. Middleton and his Shakespeare on hold to go take a leak. The hallway still smells like all the deep-fried stuff from the cafeteria lunch. When I walk into the bathroom, Blake is there, dropping a wad of paper towels into the garbage.
    â€œHey, Pen,” she says.
    She knows my name. Of course she knows my name.There aren’t that many people who go here, and I’m pretty sure there’s only one of me at this school. I feel like walking right back out for a second. Guys don’t have to deal with this kind of bathroom awkwardness. What if she thinks I’m here to take a dump?
    â€œHi.”
    â€œWhat class do you have right now?” she asks.
    â€œEnglish. You?”
    â€œMath.”
    â€œEw.”
    â€œYeah. I’m not in a hurry to get back, but I’ve already been here picking at my face for seven minutes.” She points to this red thing on her cheek that looks angry. I wonder if the mirror shows her how pretty she is. I really have to pee, but it’s not going to happen when she’s within earshot.
    â€œWe’re doing Shakespeare so I pretty much want to poke my eyes out with my pen. That dude makes me hate reading.”
    She laughs, and it’s a raspy sound that makes my lower back tingle. “Well, guess I better get back to class. See you later, Pen.”
    My name between her lips is the best thing ever.
    â€œYeah. See ya.”
    When I talk to her next, it’ll probably be so I can hook her in for Colby.
    WHEN THE LAST BELL rings, I take my time at my locker. Johnny won’t be here for another twenty minutes. Outside, I wait a while, watching the city bus make its stop across thestreet. Soon Olivia comes rushing out of the entrance doors behind me.
    â€œI missed it, didn’t I,” she says.
    â€œThe bus? Yeah, it went by a minute ago.”
    Olivia drops her bag and then lets herself fall on the pavement, coming to a cross-legged position. I look around to see if there’s anyone else here, but all the people are off by the side lot. She looks like someone whose house just went up in flames.
    I edge closer to her. “What’s going on between you two?”
    â€œI can’t talk to you.”
    â€œAll right, well—fine.”
    â€œYou seemed nice but I’m not stupid,” she says. When I screw up my eyebrows, she goes, “You’re Colby’s buddy .”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œSo . . .” She widens her eyes like I should know what she’s talking about. Like I’m being dumb. “I knew what was going on. You asked me to hang out, and you knew what was going to happen. You know what he’s like.”
    My mouth is all hanging open. “Uh . . . are you blaming me for—for whatever drama you’ve got going on?”
    She shakes her head, tucks her black hair behind her ears, and drops her head into her hands. I take a deep breath, except all that does is make some of the anger from my gut rise up. “It’s not like I’m responsible for what he does. You didn’t have to follow me that day.”
    â€œMaybe you could’ve warned me,”