Nice and Mean Read Online Free

posted the list on the bulletin board, because all of a sudden there was a stampede! Seventh and eighth graders mobbed the board in layers so thick, I couldn’t even see the board itself.
    â€œWhat
is
that?” Lainey asked.
    â€œI think it’s the after-school activities list,” I responded, my heart thumping. I sat frozen between them, not sure if I should move. Of course I wanted to see if I’d gotten into Video, but I wasn’t sure I wanted Flora and Lainey to be there when I did. What if the teachers noticed that the signature was funny, and had written “See me” next to my name?
    Well—even if that was the case, I had to know. I jumped up and said, “I’m going to check out the list.”
    Flora squinted up at me. “Are you that excited about Test Prep?”
    â€œUm . . . I also requested Video.” The crowd was gathering more people by the second.
    â€œNo way!” Flora scrambled to her feet, and Lainey did the same as my heart squeezed in protest. “That’s so cool. I thought your parents were making you take Test Prep. What did you say to them?”
    â€œI just asked and they said yes,” I replied, heading for the board. I wished she hadn’t said that in front of Lainey. They were already getting close because of the play. What if Flora told her things about me that made me seem immature? “It wasn’t a big deal.”
    Just then, a boy pushed past me and elbowed me, hard.
    Ow!
I rubbed my arm. Was that my punishment for lying? Because I hadn’t only lied to my friends. I’d deceived my parents as well, only far, far worse.
    SACHI’S VIDEO NIGHTMARE #2.2—A TRUE STORY
    INTERIOR. SACHI’S PARENTS’ BEDROOM—NIGHT
    CLOSE-UP: a credit card, flipped over. A piece of scrap paper. A hand practicing a signature.
    SACHI’S MOTHER (offscreen)
    Sachi? Why aren’t you in bed?
    PAN from Sachi’s hand to her face as she gasps.
    SACHI
    Coming!
    Using the signature she’s been practicing, Sachi scrawls her mother’s name on the after-school activities form.
    I brushed the memory from my head. I just needed to find out whether I’d gotten in—then I’d deal with the consequences.
    A space opened up in front of the board, and I darted into it. I found the words “Video Lab,” scanned the end of the list for “Parikh,” and—
    â€œYes!” I clapped. “I’m in!”
    â€œAwesome,” said Lainey. “What are you going to do it on? Can we guest-star?”
    I laughed. “Oh, gosh, I don’t know.” I had thought about what I might do, and it didn’t involve playing a part. But it could, possibly, so I said, “I mean, of course you can.”
    The first bell rang, sending a groan rippling through the lobby. “We should go,” Flora said. The laughter I’d felt a moment ago dried up, because I remembered something else I had to worry about: Priyanka.
    SACHI’S VIDEO NIGHTMARE #2.3
    INTERIOR. JANE JACOBS MIDDLE SCHOOL LOBBY—DAY
    Sachi’s sister, PRIYANKA, enters the lobby and makes a beeline for the list. She reads it, and her eyes bulge out in shock.
    PRIYANKA
    (turning to Sachi)
    You’re taking Video? What is your problem? I’m calling Ma!
    SACHI
    Priyanka—let me explain—
    I had to intercept her before she saw the list.
    â€œYou guys go ahead,” I told Flora and Lainey. “I need to tell Priyanka something.”
    â€œPriyanka? Get me outta here!” Flora bounded toward the stairs. Lainey ran after her, asking, “Why?”
    Flora made no secret of finding my older sister cross and dull, and though I wished she wouldn’t be quite so obvious about it, I couldn’t blame her.
    Make that cross, dull, and punctual,
I thought, because, as if on cue, Priyanka strode into the lobby, her hair frizzy in the humidity, despite her braid. A crowd had gathered again around the list,