Acting Out Read Free Page B

squeeze.
    “Ooh, can I wear your necklace?” Ashley fingers my beads. I take them off and put them over her head.
    “So sparkly! Okay, come on, it’s pizza time!” she shrieks, pulling on my hand and leading me to the kitchen. The rest of the Vet Volunteers follow. My heart starts to race a little, knowing that Brian might be downstairs.
    We all find seats at the table. I don’t see Brian anywhere, but I pull the lip gloss from my pocket and apply some just in case.
    “Napkins in your laps, everyone,” Mrs. Hutchinson says, setting the pizza on the table.
    Everyone starts noisily passing around the trays of mini pizzas and a bowl of salad. I guess Mrs. Hutchinson figured we needed something healthier than just pizza after all. As I reach for the salad, I see Brian come in. I sit up straighter and flash a big smile at David, hoping that Brian will notice. But he just stands at the kitchen counter, eating pizza with one hand and playing on his phone with the other. I wonder if he’s textingsome girl. Ashley is beside me, happily chomping on her pizza and swinging her legs playfully.
    Then there is a flash and a
click
. Brenna has taken a picture of her plate.
    “What are you doing?” David asks.
    “I have a food setting on my camera, and I wanted to try it out,” she says, lifting her camera and taking a picture of the salad.
    “Food setting?” David repeats. “Do you have a drink setting, too?”
    “No, just a food setting,” Brenna says, adjusting her lens.
    “What about a fool setting?” Maggie asks. “Because that would be Josh and David. You should definitely take a picture with the fool setting.”
    Brenna points her camera at Josh and David while they make silly faces.
Click
. I glance over at Mrs. Hutchinson. She doesn’t seem upset that this lunch has turned into a loud party. Maybe it’s because our napkins are still in our laps.
    The kitchen grows noisier as the party continues. Mrs. Hutchinson serves chocolate-chip cookies. They’re good, warm, and chewy. I once made cookies like this but used whole-wheat flour, a bit of flaxseed, and some oatmeal. They were delicious, too, but also nutritious. I amabout to mention this to Brenna—her family is into healthy eating, too—but then there’s a knock on the door. Josh and Jules’s dad has come to get them, and the twins introduce me to him.
    “Nice to meet you,” Mr. Darrow says, shaking my hand. “I expect we’ll see you around our place quite a bit. The kids have fixed up our basement as a Vet Volunteers hangout, but I’m sure you’ve already heard about that. Come on Josh, Jules, let’s get moving.”
    Hmm. I hadn’t heard about the hangout, but I haven’t really talked to Maggie yet. Josh punches David in the arm as he walks to the door. David grabs him in a headlock. Boys. They can’t just say good-bye to their friends.
    Jules takes a step outside, then turns around, biting her lip. “David, I’m glad Rover has a real home,” she says. “Honest.”
    “Thanks,” David says. It looks like he’s going to say something else, but then he just waves at Jules and looks at his feet.
    “We ought to get going, too,” Brenna says. “You ready, Sunita? Great cat, David!” She snaps a picture of David and heads out the door with Sunita following behind.
    I never did get a chance to tell Brenna to take a picture of Brian. Bummer.
    I glance around to check out Brian just as he looks my way. Ack! I blush, but Brian smiles and nods. Out of the corner of my eye I see David frown. Now what’s up? There’s more drama in Ambler today than back in Hollywood.

Chapter Three

    T here is no reason to be frightened of tofu,” I say, flipping the bean curd over in the pan. Now that I’ve had two full nights of sleep, my energy is back and I’m cooking an early dinner for my cousin and grandmother. Maggie manages a doubtful smile at my words. Gran looks just as uncomfortable. Really, what do these two eat when I’m not here? Actually, I