Is She for Real? Read Online Free Page B

grabbed a piece of pepperoni, stuffing it into his mouth without even taking a plate. “Where are you rushing off to?” Lissa asked. But Nate didn’t answer.
    The night wore on, and Nate continued to avoid the girls. He didn’t even join them when they made theircookie dough like he usually did. He did, however, come out to eat some of it after Lissa made a point of inviting him to join them.
    Maybe Lily’s right and he does have a crush on Bethany , Lissa thought. It would certainly explain her brother’s strange behavior.
    â€œYou have a little flour on your face,” was the first thing he said to Bethany. Lissa brushed it off for her, and they all laughed.
    When everyone came off their sugar high, the girls settled into Lissa’s room for the night. Nate had wandered off without saying good night. Lissa quickly spread out her sleeping bag and sat cross-legged on the floor as Olivia, Lily, and Bethany unrolled their sleeping bags.
    â€œOuch!” Bethany cried suddenly, her hands on her foot. “What was that?”
    Everyone laughed. “Sorry, that’s Howard,” Lissa said.
    â€œWhat? Who?” Bethany seemed panicked, and the girls laughed even harder.
    â€œHoward the cat,” Lissa explained quickly. “He ambushes people’s feet.”
    She reached under the bed and pulled out a long, sleek black cat with pretty yellow eyes. She held himin her arms, her face close to his as she cooed lovingly, “You’re an ambusher, aren’t you, Howard? Can you please not ambush the newcomer? Thanks, I’d appreciate it.” She let him down, and he scurried right back under the bed, ready to ambush again.
    They all got into their sleeping bags and turned out the light. But no one was ready for sleep.
    â€œLet’s interview Bethany,” Olivia suggested. “Like the interviews we did in history class. Everyone gets to ask her a question.”
    Bethany giggled. “Sure, as long as I can reserve the right not to answer,” she said.
    â€œWe’ll go easy on you,” Lissa assured her. “Okay, I’ll start. Do you like Old Warwick so far?”
    Bethany answered right away. “Sure. It’s really different from New York City, though. It’s much quieter. But I like living at the beach, and school’s okay so far.”
    Now it was Olivia’s turn. “Who’s in your family?” she asked.
    â€œWell, I’m an only child,” Bethany said. “My parents are working a lot, and my aunt Mimi lives with us. She’s supposed to keep an eye on me when they’re not around, but she’s getting a little forgetful. She’s, like, not even that oldyet, but she’s starting to have problems with her memory.”
    â€œMy grandmother had that,” Lissa said, nodding sympathetically.
    Now it was Lily’s turn. “Do you think Nate is cute?” she asked boldly.
    In the dark, no one could see Bethany’s shy smile. “I reserve the right not to answer,” she said slyly.
    â€œThat means you think he is!” Lily crowed.
    â€œWell, I sort of had a boyfriend in New York, and he was really cute,” Bethany said, trying to change the subject.
    â€œReally?” Lily asked. “Were you devastated to leave him?”
    â€œWhatever … we just went to the movies a few times. It’s not like I was going to marry him. I spent most of my free time with my friends. I had three best friends, and we’ve been friends since preschool,” Bethany said. “I miss them more than him,” she added, a note of sadness in her voice.
    â€œI bet,” Lily said. “I can’t imagine having to move away from Olivia and Lissa. Okay, well, here’s another question. It’s different from the last one. Do you think Nate is hot ?”
    â€œYou’re unbelievable!” Bethany laughed. “Okay, fine.He’s really cute. But this is a girls’