Free Bad Girls in Love by Cynthia Voigt

know.”
    â€œYou mean she slept with them? You mean sex? Can’t you speak English?” Mikey demanded.
    â€œI’m sorry,” Casey said. “I didn’t mean—it’s just a Frenchphrase for—Margalo?” Her eyes filmed with tears. “I read it,” she apologized.
    â€œYou read too much,” Mikey told her. “When you read too much, people look more complicated than they really are. You and Margalo, you both do that.”
    â€œMargalo understands people,” Casey said, her voice only a little quivery.
    â€œMargalo doesn’t know anything about this,” Mikey maintained.
    Tan disagreed. “She’s got brothers, so she knows more than you. Or me.”
    Mikey said, “Brothers isn’t what I meant. I meant this.” Words having failed her, she jabbed her finger at the place in the cafeteria where Shawn Macavity was moving over to the seat Ronnie was vacating, then jammed the finger into the center of her own chest. “You probably think it has to do with earth science,” she told Margalo.
    In fact, that wasn’t what Margalo thought, but she defended the position anyway to see if she could. “Well, it is biology. Reproduction. Natural selection and survival of the fittest, and that’s Darwin. Breeding for selected characteristics.” Groans and laughing protests greeted her argument.
    So she continued. “We’re animals, after all.”
    â€œThey’re the ones who are animals,” Ronnie said, sitting down. “Take it from someone who lives with them. Luckily”—she smiled smugly—”I’m an animal lover.”
    Cassie pointed out to Ronnie, “They’re only animals if youuse your looks as bait. I mean, have you seen the way Heather Mac is dressing this week? It’s as if—like all of her sweaters got shrunk. At least you don’t dress like that,” she told Ronnie. “Although, with a bod like yours, you could probably dress the way I do and still get noticed.”
    â€œYou get noticed,” Ronnie argued.
    â€œFor myself, who I am,” Cassie said. “Or my artwork,” she added. “But not for my good looks.”
    â€œNobody could look good in what you wear,” Ronnie said.
    â€œMy prune costume, you mean?” Cassie laughed, pulling her black sweatshirt out from her torso to show it off. “It keeps me out of trouble—which is more than those turtle-necks and khakis do for you with the famous Doug, if what I’ve heard is true.”
    â€œAnd I hear Jace doesn’t dare try anything with you.”
    For a minute Cassie glared at Ronnie, then she shrugged. “I guess I’m the new breed, and you’re not. Lucky for Doug, isn’t it? He’s got it easy.”
    Ronnie snorted, to mean Ha! and to say, You think you’re so smart . She didn’t glare; she smiled in a kindly fashion, as if Cassie were her idiot little sister. “Do you really think it’s any easier for them than us? If you do, you’ve got a lot to learn, Cassie Davis.” With that line she rose and left their table.
    â€œI plan to be a slow learner,” Cassie called after her, then turned to the people remaining at the table. “Things I don’t want to get As in, at fourteen. Number one, sex,” she said,counting on her fingers. “You’ve got the right idea, Casey, falling in love with Maximilian de Winter.”
    â€œI’m not in love with him,” Casey protested.
    â€œWho?” Tan asked.
    â€œIt’s that book,” Frannie explained. “Rebecca.”
    â€œI might have guessed,” Mikey said.
    â€œI know the difference between stories and reality,” Casey told Cassie.
    â€œBut what stories?” Margalo asked. “And whose reality? I mean, I know some people whose reality is pretty delusional,” she said. “Ms. Barcley,” she named one.
    This reminded Mikey,