Addison Blakely: Confessions of A PK Read Online Free Page B

with textbooks and an English-German dictionary.
    “Nothing new, unfortunately.” I hesitated. “You’re the exchange student from Germany, aren’t you?”
    “Ja
, Marta.” She stood and came to my table, sliding into the chair I’d saved for Claire. “I’d tell you my last name, but it wouldn’t matter. You wouldn’t be able to repeat it or spell it.” Her grin widened, revealing an even row of white teeth and lighting her pale-blue eyes.
    “In that case,
guten Morgen.”
I smiled a greeting.
    Marta’s accent thickened as she rattled off in German and, I assumed, asked if I spoke the language. Oops. I shook my head. “Sorry, I’m in my second year of Spanish. I’m Addison.” I gestured at the chair she just took. “And you’re sitting on my imaginary friend Claire, who is apparently standing me up for our study date.”
    “I see.” Marta nodded, her hair swinging against her jawline. “Can I help instead?”
    “It’s just a project for Mr. Black’s biology class. Claire’s my partner, and I’m clueless where to start.” Inspiration lately had been a dry well. I tried not to blame Wes, but at the moment, it seemed like everything was his fault. If he hadn’t ridden into my life a few months ago, this school year would be predictable and boring just like I’d hoped. Now here I was, all ditzy and unfocused like the girls who hung around him that I made fun of. The realization burned my stomach, and I turned my attention back to Marta, determined to focus. “We’re supposed to be making a model of the different parts of a cell, something simple enough that could be taught to elementary-aged kids.” I sighed. “But there’s a bunch of extra points awarded for creativity, so I’d hoped to do something sort of outside the box.”
    “Fun. Science is my best subject.” Marta slid the book, which was open to the chart, toward her. “May I?”
    “Knock yourself out.”
    She tilted her head, pale eyebrows bunched in confusion.
    “American slang. Sorry.” I waved my hand in an effort to brush off my embarrassment. “I meant, please continue.”
    “Ja.” Marta bent over the text, and her lips pursed as she read. She looked up after a moment, and I could almost see the wheels turning in her head. “You wanted creative?”
    I nodded.
    “What if you made the model of your cell edible? With candy?”
    “A candy cell?” Talk about my kind of assignment. There was a bag of SweeTarts in my purse right now, and I wasn’t even a fifth grader.
    Marta continued. “It’d be great for children. How better to learn than with candy?”
    I knew I’d liked this girl. I nodded slowly, liking the idea more and more the longer it sank in. “Wow, that’s totally perfect.” There was only one potential problem. I hesitated. “Are you taking Mr. Black’s class this semester?” I hated to use her idea if she needed it for herself—though I was sort of tempted, in this unfamiliar stage of last-minute desperation. Man, how did slackers do it?
    She shook her head, and relief draped over my shoulders like a fuzzy blanket. I reveled in the warmth, and with a burst of generosity, reached into my tote and pulled out Claire’s pop. “Here. You’ve earned it.” I handed over the bottle.
    Marta took it with a puzzled smile.
    “It was for Claire, sort of a bribe to get her here on time. We see how well that worked.” I gestured to the drink. “Enjoy.” Might as well bribe a new friend instead, although on second thought, everything about Marta seemed genuine. It was nice not to have to try to stay one step ahead of catty Claire and her mind games. I almost felt guilty for the realization, but truth was truth.
    Marta stole a glance over her shoulder for the librarian before twisting off the cap and taking a few quick sips. I bit back a smile. Looked like the language of rule breaking remained universal.
    “Is Claire a friend or just a classmate?” Marta hid the closed bottle on the ground at her feet and