Free Ruby Reinvented by Ronni Arno

killer bees. But no, I don’t think of those other things fastenough, so not only does Connor think that we both have dead parents, but he also thinks they died the same way. This can’t be good.
    â€œSucks, doesn’t it?” This time he looks at me. Right at me.
    â€œTotally,” I say.

Chapter
 11 
    I LEARN TWO new things tonight. Lobster rolls are to die for. And Parents’ Weekend is six weeks away.
    â€œIs your nana coming up?” Summer asks. “If she isn’t, you can hang with us.”
    â€œI’m not sure,” I say. “I haven’t talked to her about it. I didn’t even know there was a Parents’ Weekend.”
    â€œIt’s a huge deal at Midcoast. You’ll see.” Summer takes a bite of her second lobster roll.
    â€œSummer, don’t freak her out,” Holly says.
    â€œWhat? It is a big deal. There’s the Spotlight Project, and of course the dance. That’s the best part.” As much as I dread finding a way to keep my parents away from Parents’ Weekend, I’m kinda excited about the dance. I’ve never been to a school dance before.
    After dinner we roll ourselves out of Clara’s and make our way back to the dorms. We pass the chocolate shop and the ice cream shop, but I’m too stuffed to want to stop.
    â€œCheck it out, Mom.” Holly points to a newsstand next door to the ice cream shop. “ National Geographic ’s ocean issue is out.” She runs over to the magazine and immediately flips through it.
    Summer rolls her eyes. “Have you ever seen anyone get so excited about whales?”
    I laugh, until I notice that Summer, Connor, and I are right in front of the tabloid section. And smack in front of my nose is Celebrity Scuttlebutt magazine. And who’s on the cover of Celebrity Scuttlebutt this month? Zack Miller, Celestine Cruz, and their daughter—whose face is hidden in this particular picture—leaving Sarriette’s.
    I can taste the lobster roll coming back up, but there’s no way I can puke now. Breathe, Ruby. I close my eyes and take a deep breath in. I have to get everyone out of here. Now. Before someone decides to flip through Celebrity Scuttlebutt. What if there’s a photo of me inside? I do a quick check of everyone’s location. Holly and her mom are still looking at National Geographic . Eric is reading something in Newsweek . Summer and Connor are still right next to me, and I’m still right in front of Celebrity Scuttlebutt .
    Without thinking, I point to the magazine rack that’s as far away as possible from the tabloids. “Wow! Look at that!”
    â€œWhat?” Summer asks, following the direction of my finger.
    I walk toward the rack, with my finger pointing.
    â€œ Popular Mechanics ?” Connor asks.
    â€œUhhhh.” Yep, I’m in the car section. “Yeah. Cool, right?”
    â€œI didn’t know you liked engines.” Connor was beaming.
    â€œWell, I don’t. I mean, I do, but . . . it’s just that I love the picture on the cover.” Great. Another lie.
    â€œWhat is it?” Summer cocks her head to one side, as if looking at the cover from a different angle will help her figure it out.
    I purse my lips. I have no idea what it is. It’s just a bunch of metal parts clumped together in the shape of a snail.
    â€œIt’s a turbocharger,” Connor says, as if everyone knows that.
    â€œYeah, it’s a turbocharger.” I nod. “A nice one.”
    Connor looks at me and smiles. “I’m impressed that you know what that is.”
    I wave my hand in front of my face, desperate to end this conversation and leave the newsstand. But Connor’s distracted by another magazine, and we follow him to the next rack.
    â€œIt’s the new issue of Astronomy. ” He picks it up and stares at the cover, which shows a photo of a giant telescope.
    â€œHow cool would this