Anatomy of a Misfit by Portes Andrea

Author:Portes,Andrea
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperTeen

UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

HarperCollins Publishers

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thirty

Ladies and gentlemen, I’m confused.

On the one side there’s Logan who, even if he’s a social pariah is really cool and smart and thinks like nobody else I’ve ever met before. Then, on the other hand, there’s Jared Kline, rock star, super-king, and the one person in the world who can protect me from Becky Vilhauer. I mean it’s like trying to decide between James Dean and Elvis. Seriously, who could make that choice?

My guilt has led me squarely to the dinner table at Logan’s house.

If you were wondering how close Becky lives to Logan McDonough the answer is . . . right across the street. I know. Doomsday scenario. The only good thing is . . . her house is back like a football field from the street because they needed room to put trees, a wall, a fountain, and other stuff to make everybody else feel like shit.

So, even though Becky is almost spitting distance from our little friendly dinner, I’m actually not that scared. And by not that scared I mean, I only checked three times since I’ve been here to make sure no one has seen me.

Besides, there are other things to be scared of. Like Logan’s family. First, there’s his mom, who, as far as I can tell, has her cocktail superglued to her fingers. She’s a pretty blonde with a huge diamond ring and all. But there’s something sad about her. Something resigned. It’s like the weight of that huge, shiny rock is pinning her to the ground. Then, there are his two kid brothers, Billy and Lars, who are three and six, respectively. You could cast them in a commercial about cereal, that’s how much they look like dumplings. Billy especially, a little towhead with sky-blue eyes.

Then, there’s Logan and me.

And, finally, the pièce de résistance . . . Logan’s dad.

Logan’s dad looks like the kind of guy you are trying to avoid. All smiles and sweaters. Terrifyingly cheerful. And talking. Lots of talking. I mean the guy never shuts up. So far this dinner, which he had catered by the way. I’m not kidding. He ordered out and even had them send over a guy in a white chef’s coat to serve us. He must have done this before because the guy in the white chef’s coat knows two things: (1) Where the serving plates are, and (2) To keep the wife’s drink filled.

I mean, this dinner, here on a Tuesday night, just a regular old Tuesday night, no holidays or anything, must have cost a fortune. Like, my mom’s entire grocery budget for the whole month. Apparently this is natural behavior for him. During his monologue about how he’s planning on triumphing over the zoning restrictions on his new subdivision, Logan leans in.

“He likes to show off.”

Now Logan’s dad doesn’t like interruptions.

“What’s that son? You wanna share with the table?”

“I was just telling Anika what a master you are with real estate.”

“Oh. So, like I said, we’re still waiting on the zone permits.

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