Free Freak by Francine Pascal

hanging out, even if on some level she was hoping this was a date, and Jake seemed to be hoping that, too. Her subconscious, after all, was the entity that made her say stupid things, drop entire plates of food in her own lap, and automatically punch the lights out of anyone who touched her.
    The total for the candy was astronomical, but Gaia barely even blinked. It was worth it just for the experience. Jake held the door open for her as she maneuvered her way outside while simultaneously ripping open a bag of chocolate-covered pretzels. She bit into one and closed her eyes, savoring the taste. This had to be what happiness felt like.
    â€œSo, you up for more or do you want to head home?” Jake asked. “Cuz there’s this band playing at CB’s Gallery tonight. This guy Shiva from my dojo said he’s seen them play. They’re supposed to be pretty good.”
    Jake pulled a wrinkled fluorescent green flyer out of his pocket and showed it to Gaia. The ad was for a band called the Dust Magnets, and there was a scraggly line drawing of an angry-looking dust-bunny playing the guitar. The illustration looked vaguely familiar, but Gaia couldn’t place it.
    â€œWhere’d you get this?” she asked, turning the page over.
    â€œThey were plastered all over Oliver’s neighborhood,” Jake said with a shrug. “I tore it down the other day and figured I’d check it out if I was around.”
    Gaia popped another pretzel into her mouth and considered the invitation. She was hardly ever home at a reasonable hour, but that was usually because she was on the lam or kicking someone’s ass. But her many months of living the street urchin lifestyle hadturned her into a serious night person. She wasn’t remotely tired, and if she went home she was just going to sit there and obsess until her father called. Besides, now she had supplies. With the amount of food in her bag, she could go all night.
    â€œWhy not?” she said, stepping off the curb and heading for the subway. It might be cool to stay out just for fun instead of staying out to find freelance vigilante work.
    As long as it wasn’t a date.
    The Kicker
    ED SAT BACK INTO THE CUSHY COUCH he’d managed to secure at CB’s Gallery by arriving there at the very uncool hour of eight o’clock. He’d been sitting there on and off ever since, only getting up when Kai or one of her friends was there to save the seat. He figured if he was going to have to listen to Kai’s brother’s punk band destroy the honor and legacy of punk bands everywhere, he may as well do it from a comfortable couch.
    â€œHey there!” Kai said, returning from the stage where she’d been chatting with the band’s drummer for the last fifteen minutes while he set up. Betweenthe bright graphic tank top she was wearing and the glitter swept onto strategic portions of her face and shoulders, Kai was absolutely glowing. All day and all evening, Kai had been even more hyper than usual, running around, thanking everyone from school for coming. Over the past week she’d been putting up flyers advertising the gig on bulletin boards, windows, and every other empty surface she could find at the Village School.
    â€œMiss me?” she asked, plopping down next to him.
    â€œYeah, totally,” Ed replied, forcing a smile.
    He wasn’t exactly sure how to act around Kai these days. Ever since she’d basically offered her body up to him and he’d frozen faster than a shallow puddle on an Antarctic night, being with her made him tense. He was always worried she was going to try it again and he was going to bail again and she was going to start thinking he was gay. Or just really lame.
    Not that she was going to undress in the middle of a crowded club, but sooner or later he was going to have to deal with the after-the-club situation.
    To top it all off, it seemed that every last member of her brother’s band, the