Oracle Read Free

her eyes at me. “Look where you’re going, you idiot ,” she sneers.
    The air is filled with exclamations as Kamryn’s friends flutter around her. They throw me dirty scowls.
    Her balance finally restored, Kamryn glares at me. If she never noticed me before, she’ll sure remember me now. She smooths her hair back, her chin jutting. “Don’t you ever touch me again,” she hisses. Her glare could break apart diamonds.
    â€œI wasn’t…” I fumble. “I didn’t mean…” I shake my head and take a step back.
    My foot lands on my skateboard. The wheels engage, sliding easily along the concrete. I go sprawling backward. My leg overcompensates, pushing the board forward. Horrified, I watch as it shoots out from under me and slams into Kamryn’s shin. She gasps and clutches at her leg.
    Apparently, it can get worse.
    Kamryn’s eyes narrow into sharp slits of glittering green. She is just getting ready to slay me when the door behind her opens.
    â€œOwen. Hey.” I look up to see Hannah, the president of the student council. She looks surprised but wary. “Everything okay?”
    Kamryn straightens and glances at Hannah. She doesn’t say whatever she’d planned to say to me. Not in front of Hannah, at least. Everyone likes Hannah. She’s always nice, always honest, but funny and cool at the same time. People want her to think well of them.
    Kamryn gives me a final glare. Her friends close around her, and they move away, talking. Kamryn is waving her hands and shaking her head. I’m sure she’s telling everyone how stupid I am for opening the door.
    Never mind that she was leaning on it, not looking where she was going.
    Hannah watches the receding group. “What was that all about?”
    I shake my head. “She crashed into me when I opened the door,” I say. “And now she’s got a full hate-on for me.”
    Hannah sighs. “I wouldn’t worry about it too much, Owen,” she says. “It’s pretty hard to stay in Kamryn’s good books.”
    She sticks a hand out, and I take it. “Thanks,” I say. She pulls me up, and I dust off my butt. My shirt is cold and wet, and it sticks to my stomach. Gross.
    But as I look at Hannah, it hits me. I think I’ve found a solution to my problem.

Chapter Four
    â€œTell me again why you’re doing this?” Hannah asks.
    I upend my board and grab it by the trucks. We climb the front stairs of my house. “’Cause. It’ll be fun.” I jiggle my key in the old brass lock. The door swings open, and I step into the entryway.
    Hannah doesn’t follow. She stays on the doorstep, arms folded. “Owen.” Only Hannah has that way of saying my name. “Flash mobs are fun. Parasailing is fun. But writing a relationship blog? This doesn’t sound like you. What’s going on?”
    Crap. She’s not buying it. She’ll laugh if I tell her the real reason behind the Oracle. Especially after what she witnessed today.
    I shrug. “I want to see how many people I can get to read it.” I motion for her to come in. She stands in the doorway, stubbornly.
    I sigh and push her out of the way so I can close the door. Hannah’s not someone most people can push out of the way. But I can. We’ve been friends since our mothers met at baby music class thirteen years ago. I’ve seen Hannah barf all down her best dress. She’s seen me pee my pants. Twice.
    Hannah furrows her dark brows. “You want to see how many people read it?” she repeats. “Really? Owen, when was the last time you wrote more than ten words in a row? What’s with the sudden urge to host an entire”—she looks for the right word—“gossip blog for our school?”
    I put my arm around her shoulders. “I don’t plan to do it all alone,” I say. “You’re going to help me.”
    â€œI’m