Odd Girl In Read Online Free Page A

but then I realized something.
    Emily had, unfortunately, been right about my nonexistent social circle. It was bound to come up in Champs and might keep me from passing the class … unless I added a few friendly outings.
    â€œAll right.” I fixed Chloe with a steady gaze and spoke slowly. “I will help you on two conditions.”
    Chloe’s eyes lit up, but she nodded seriously.
    â€œCondition one,” I held up a finger. “I don’t have to sing alone or in a group to any musical number. And that includes lip-synching into a hairbrush.”
    She nodded. “I’ll count you out of the dance routine too.”
    I didn’t bother asking if she was serious. “Condition two: You provide me with earplugs, a laser pointer, a blank CD, and twenty dollars.”
    A flicker of confusion crossed Chloe’s face. “Why?”
    â€œDon’t worry about that,” I said. “I’ve dealt with Emily’s kind before.”
    â€œUm, okay. Is that it?”
    â€œYep.” I held out my hand so we could shake on it. “I’ll see you in my polar bear pajamas.”
    Chloe grinned and squeezed my hand, hopping up and down. She giggled excitedly and sprinted away. When class ended, I managed to make it two steps into the locker room before Emily popped up directly in my path.
    â€œGeez!” I jumped back. “Shouldn’t you be wearing a ninja costume when you do that?”
    Emily closed the gap between us. “That was really mean what you said earlier.”
    â€œWhat, calling you Miss Know-It-All?” I pushed past her and opened my locker. “I’m sorry I hurt your feelings, but you were kind of being a pain.”
    She shrugged. “It’s okay. Since we’re friends, I forgive you.”
    Fantastic. I now had one person who considered me a friend for my Champs survey. Not that the feeling was mutual. “Uh, thanks,” I said, slipping into a bathroom stallto change. Normally, I wasn’t so modest, but it was a chance to escape Emily.
    Or so I thought.
    Her feet appeared on the tile just outside my stall.
    â€œWe get graded on how we do out there, you know,” she said from the other side of the door.
    â€œI’m doing great,” I said. “Don’t worry.”
    â€œA ‘B’ is average,” she corrected me.
    With my shirt around my neck, I opened the stall door. “How do you know my grade?”
    â€œI have access to everyone’s grades,” Emily said mysteriously. “If you want to do better, I can teach you.”
    â€œThanks, but I’m all set.” I closed the door.
    â€œThink about it,” she said. “We’ll talk more tonight.”
    â€œSorry,” I said, slipping on my jeans. “I have plans.”
    â€œI know .” She made a scoffing sound. “They’re with me and my stepmom.”
    I froze, one foot suspended in the air with an unlaced sneaker. “What?”
    â€œYou’re in Champs, right?” asked Emily. “My stepmom teaches the class.”
    I sighed and sank down onto the toilet. “Of course she does.”
    â€œAnd I’m her assistant.” Emily almost sounded proud.“It’s the first year she’s trusted me with so much responsibility.”
    â€œCongratulations,” I said. “If you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to be sick.”
    â€œYou know what helps an upset stomach?” she asked. “If—”
    I leaned back and flushed the toilet to drown her out. Maybe being a student at St. Ignatius wouldn’t be so terrible.

Chapter 3
    I f there was one thing I hated more than a poodle in a dress, it was me in a dress. But Dad insisted we look our best for the Champs evaluation.
    â€œFirst impressions are very important,” he said, helping Parker knot a tie. “Especially since you’re joining the class a week late.”
    â€œWe’ve already missed a