With the Enemy Read Online Free Page A

almost completely dark, the open door a silvery outline, the corners of the room pitch-black. Even though Louisa is sitting only a foot from me, she’s nearly invisible.
    The stools are cracked on the tops but they’re still sit-able and they spin around. I bet it was super fun to come here with your friends.
    I say, “What are you going to have? I’m thinking of a burger with all the fixin’s.”
    “Oh heavens no, not for me. I’m dieting for my vay-cay,” Louisa says, hamming it up. I wonder what it was like to live in a time when there was so much food some people went on diets. “My family and I are going on a luxury cruise around the Greek Isles and I want to look good in my bikini.” Her stool squeaks as she moves from side to side. “What were fixin’s, anyway?”
    “Something incredibly delicious,” I assure her.
    “Wait — you don’t know? I thought you knew everything.”
    “Ha-ha.”
    “Seriously, how come you know so much about almost any topic?” she asks. “Like about the government and the Alliance and stuff? Is that from your parents?”
    Even though it’s dark, I roll my eyes. “No way. My parents never tell me anything about what’s going on in the world. They like to pretend everything is perfect and everything is going to be okay. They’re all, ‘Don’t worry about it, Evelyn; that wasn’t an explosion in Cleveland. Idon’t know where you heard that; don’t you have homework?’ “ I say, imitating my mother’s voice. “Which of course just makes me more curious. Even just
skimming
the NewsServs it’s clear that everything is NOT okay. How can everything be okay when it’s started snowing every other month and farmers can’t grow food? Or when California hasn’t had power in two years or —”
    I realize Louisa’s gone really quiet. “Never mind,” I say.
    “I was just thinking,” she says. “My parents are like your parents. They never tell me anything bad and they always say everything is going to be okay but I — I always just believe they’re right. Now —” Her lip trembles and I make out a flash of movement as her fingers go to her throat. “Now I’m not sure. They said not to worry and I didn’t. I just took everything for granted. I didn’t realize how easy it was for it to all disappear.”
    I know that the place on her neck she’s touching is where she used to have a gold locket that got lost when we were escaping from CMS. But I think she must be thinking of Maddie, too. I’m sure of it when she says,“When we first got to school and I liked it and she hated it, there were a few nights where I got into bed and she and I weren’t speaking. You know that kind of silence? I thought it was awful. But now — now I’d trade anything for that. Because not having her here, not knowing what’s happening to her, that is really awful. You’re positive we can get her back, aren’t you?”
    “We have to,” I say.
    “Thank you,” Louisa says. “You made me feel much better.”
    Which is good. It’s what I wanted to do. So why do I feel worse?
    Rosie pokes her head through one of the empty doors. “The guys just whistled for help carrying some stuff. I’ll be right back. Don’t get into trouble.”
    “Aye, aye, Officer Rosie,” I say, glad to be distracted.
    Louisa’s stomach rumbles and she laughs. “Not a moment too soon. I just realized I’m starving. I must be feeling better.”
    “Or else
Ryan
is rubbing off on you.”
    She says, “Shut up!” and points furiously at Drew. I start to laugh and she starts to laugh and it feels so good, almost better than food.
    We’re still laughing when we hear the heavy footsteps of the food-laden boys approaching the building.
    “Finally,” Louisa says playfully as they get to the door, and one of them shines a flashlight beam in our faces.
    We’ve draped ourselves over the counter, pretending to be passed out with hunger. “Food … please … help us …” Louisa squeaks piteously, and