Second Skin Read Online Free

black patent-leather bag onto the floor. "I know," she said, twisting around to face her friends. "My mom almost canceled since there's still so much unpacking to do, but my dad said they'd lose
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    their deposit, so..." She trailed off, smiling widely. "Off they go!"
    "I don't know," Ella said, chewing her lower lip. "You just moved. Those parties can get pretty out of control. Remember what happened at Gina's?"
    I shuddered. Even I'd heard about Gina Yonas's wild party and-thanks to a very clogged downstairs toilet-her never to be white again wall-to-wall carpeting.
    "It's fine," Kylie said quickly, but I'd seen the shadow pass over her face. "We have hardwood floors."
    "Besides, Gina let everyone in," Jules quipped, shooting Ella a "you're so hopeless" look. "We're gonna have a guest list."
    "Right," Kylie agreed, flipping open her iPhone. "Just a few people-it'll be intimate. Very chic."
    Ella shrugged, but she still looked concerned.
    So Kylie Frank was planning a party. An A-list soiree was being thrown less than a hundred yards from my own bedroom.
    Not that I'd be invited. At least, not today. But if I worked hard and stuck to the plan, it wasn't completely out of the question.
    First things first, I thought, straightening slightly. If I wanted an invite-or anything else A-list-I'd have to talk to the A-listers first.
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    "Tanner's gonna want beer," Ella warned. "There's nothing chic about a keg."
    "Oh, quit being so negative," Jules huffed. "So we have a keg. Big deal. Bob's Beverage doesn't card. We can get one from there."
    "It's closed," I blurted out, remembering an article in the paper bearing a headline to the tune
    Of LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR CLOSED FOR SALES TO TODDLERS .
    I lifted my head. Ella, Jules and Kylie were staring at me. Arched eyebrows framed their surprised expressions.
    Jules was the first to recover. "Please. Like you know anything about buying a keg."
    I felt the color swirl into my cheeks. Just ignore her, I thought. This isn't perfect, but at least you have their attention.
    I looked at Kylie and forced myself to smile. "Um, you just moved next door to me," I told her. "On Thorncrest. I'm Sam. I live in the, uh, white house."
    "Great," Kylie said, her voice flat as she studied her French manicure.
    An awkward silence descended. It only lasted for a few seconds, but it was just long enough for me to imagine throwing a chair then myself through the nearest window.
    "Um, if you have questions about the neighborhood or anything," I said, pushing on. "Just ask."
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    "Thanks," Kylie said, her eyes still on her nails. "But I think I can handle it."
    The bell rang as Mr. Martino rushed into the room, roll book in hand.
    I watched as Kylie dropped her iPhone back into her bag, then turned to face forward.
    Jules pouted. "Great. Now we don't have time for the guest list." She scowled at me. "Next time, try your own conversation?"
    "Whatever," Kylie said, without turning. She still sounded bored. "We can figure it out during lunch."
    I studied the back of her head, wondering if she had-in a weird way-just defended me.
    Okay, maybe that was a stretch. But at least I'd made some progress on my plan. On the other hand, I wasn't sure if my reception-a bunch of not-so-veiled insults-really counted as progress.
    Forget baby steps, I thought, sliding down in my chair. I'd settle for a crawl.
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    FIVE
    " U m, what's that smell?" I shrugged off my coat and looked around my living room.
    Wait, was this my living room? It used to be. This morning, when I left for school, it had been. Now it looked more like a chemistry lab. In less than six hours, the furniture had been pushed up against the walls, and the floor was covered with all sorts of buckets and large white jugs.
    And the whole place reeked of...salad dressing?
    "Hi, sweetie!" My mom looked up at me from
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    her cross-legged position on the floor. "How was your day?"
    I clamped my hand over my nose. "Fine. What's going on?"
    My mom untangled her legs