Free The Illusion of Annabella by Jessica Sorensen Page A

don’t even know me, though.”
     
    “But isn’t that the point of becoming someone’s friend? The whole getting-to-know-the-other person. In fact, it’s one of my favorite parts.”
     
    I elevate by brows, questioning his words. “Really? I think that part sucks. I mean, it’s such an awkward phase.”
     
    “Awkward can be fun.” His smile grows when I frown in doubt. “Don’t try to tell me that you’ve never been entertained by someone acting awkward.”
     
    I open my mouth to tell him no, I haven’t, but then I remember the days of laughing at lost tourists, looking so out of place in our town. In fact, I was doing it the day of the accident.
     
    “Nope. Never,” I lie for at least the tenth time today.
     
    “Liar, I can tell by the look on your face that you totally do,” he calls me out on my bullshit, just like that, and it throws me off.
     
    Hardly anyone ever puts me in my place or tells me like it is. Even when I’m acting like a brat, everyone that knows me looks at me with pity, carefully choosing their words.
     
    “I have to go.” Opening the truck door, I prop my foot onto the running board.
     
    “See you around, Anna. Can’t wait to get started on our awkward friends phase.” He uses my nickname even though I didn’t even give him permission to.
     
    I hate that he just does it so causal, like he’s supposed to be using it. Most of all, I hate how much I like hearing him use my old name.
     
     Shaking my head in disbelief, I hoist myself into the backseat with Nikoli and Zhara.
     
    “Was that one of our new neighbors?” Loki asks as I close the door.
     
    I unzip my backpack to get a stick of gum. “Yeah, I guess.”
     
    “He seems nice,” Loki says, lacking any form of subtly. “Is he your age?”
     
    “He’s in my grade, but he’s definitely not anyone I’ll hang out with,” I tell him, needing to get that thought out of his head now.
     
    The last thing I want is for Loki to push me into being friends with the sweet, nice guy next door who, back in the day, I could have easily had a crush on. I can’t go back to that place in my life. I don’t belong there anymore—don’t deserve to belong there anymore.
     
    “Do they have any other kids?” Zhara asks, aligning the row of blue and grey beaded bracelets that match the cheerleading uniform she’s wearing.
     
    I pop a piece of gum into my mouth and look out the window. “Beats me. I didn’t ask.”
     
    “So, then you’ve talked to them?” Loki asks as he backs out onto the street.
     
    “No, they talked to me.” I drop my bag onto the floor. “The mom came strolling up to me yesterday and chatted my ear off.”
     
    He shoots me a stern look from over his shoulder. “I hope you weren’t rude.”
     
    Alexis snorts a laugh as she props her unlaced sneakers on the dash. “When isn’t she rude?”
     
    “You’re one to talk,” I retort. “You know people at school call you an evil bitch? Everyone’s afraid of you now.”
     
    She shrugs nonchalantly. “So what? It’s better than being called Freaky Gimp Girl.”
     
    Even though I know they already do, her words sting.
     
    “Alexis,” Loki warns. “Don’t even go there.”
     
    “Why? She started it,” Alexis gripes. “You always take her side because you feel sorry for her, and it’s turning her into a spoiled brat.”
     
    “Alexis, be nice to Anna. She’s been through a lot.” Zhara chimes in, trying to play the role of our mom again.
     
    “We’ve all been through a lot,” Alexis snaps, her hair whipping around as she aims a death glare at Zhara. “And coddling Anna isn’t going to help anyone.”
     
    I’ve somehow turned into Invisible Girl, and I seize the opportunity and keep my lips zipped, wishing I could vanish, even if only for a day or two. If no one noticed me then maybe I wouldn’t have to be anyone at all. I could just blend into the walls and vanish from this world.
     
    “Oh, my god, I can’t stand