Free My Year of Epic Rock by Andrea Pyros Page A

out before it could turn out to be a disaster, or go along with it because it was preferable to sitting home alone obsessing over my lack of a best friend?
    â€œUh,” I said, hesitating. “I’m not sure. Sometimes I have to go home to babysit my brother.” That was a lie. Jackson is allowed to be home alone in the afternoon by himself even after that time he turned on the oven to make Shrinky Dinks when no one else was around. My parents almost strangled him for that stunt. Too bad they didn’t.
    Shane looked at me blankly, blinking once.
    â€œActually,” I added, in a big rush before I could stop myself, “I’m sure I can come too. Count me in.”
    â€œAwesome,” Shane said. “Here, give me your cell phone.” He reached his hand out. It was all freckly. I had been wondering why Shane looked familiar. It was because he looked like a kid who should star in a movie about a kid who is always getting into trouble. I handed him my phone.
    He typed quickly without even looking at the screen, talking to us the whole time. “Here—that’s my info. See you tomorrow.”
    â€¢ • •
    The next morning, I was already seated in homeroom when Shelley, Brianna, and Josh walked in together. Ethan was a few feet behind them. When Shelley noticed he was there, she started giggling like crazy and leaned back to purposely bump right into Ethan’s nicely tanned arm.
    â€œHey!” he yelled, rubbing his arm like it hurt, but he was smiling, not annoyed.
    It reminded me of one of the questions from my love quiz: “If you casually touch him, how does he react?” It seemed like Ethan was more than just “intrigued” by Shelley. I didn’t realize he was even friendly with her! Gah!
    â€œA-HEM,” said Mrs. Cook, staring at them. They took one look at her face and all raced for their seats, though I caught Shelley giving Ethan one last flirty look. Could she be any more obvious?
    I felt really mad all of a sudden. Actually, not mad. Jealous. Of course the boy I thought was cute, the one I’d been thinking so much about, was the one Shelley liked too. Why couldn’t I get a crush on any other boy in the entire seventh grade? Why couldn’t she stop stealing all my people?
    â€œPlease look up to the bulletin board,” Mrs. Cook said, pointing toward the sheet of light green paper hanging up. We all turned dutifully in that direction. “It’s for the Halloween Talent Show. If you’re interested in being a part of it, you have until October fifteenth to sign up.” A few kids giggled, like it was some big joke.
    Tiernan looked over at me and caught my eye. He lifted up his eyebrows, like he was asking a question. I put my face in my hands. Maybe this was a sign from the universe telling me something important about my life. I just wasn’t sure exactly what.
    Thanks for the help, universe. You’re doing quite a job over here.

Chapter 12
    Dad cheerfully—suspiciously cheerfully, if you ask me—drove me over to Shane’s house that afternoon. I think he was secretly trying to sneak a peek at Mr. McCormick’s studio. Jackson tagged along.
    Shane’s house was huge and looked like a fancy barn. It was far back off the main road, on a bumpy dirt road with pebbles that kept dinging and popping up on our car. When we got to the front door, a man with a really giant beard answered. He looked like a lumberjack—he even had a flannel shirt on.
    â€œHi,” I said. “Is Shane home?”
    â€œWe’re inside!” I heard Shane yell.
    â€œUm, bye,” I tried to duck inside but Dad tapped me on my shoulder.
    â€œHang on, honey,” he said. He stuck out his hand. “I’m Dave Simmons. This is Nina, and my son Jackson.”
    â€œThomas McCormick,” said the lumberjack. “I’m Shane’s father.”
    â€œNina, why don’t you go through here,”