Revenge of the Geek by Piper Banks

never studies,”I said. “Maybe we can get him to help us with it. Although this is Finn we’re talking about, so we’ll have to bribe him.”
    “With what?”Nora asked.
    “I don’t know. Maybe a new comic book. Or a promise to help on a future prank. Finn loves pranks.”
    “You mean like putting Saran Wrap on a toilet seat, or putting sugar in a salt shaker?”Nora asked.
    “No. He works on a much larger scale. Finn’s not truly happy unless the Secret Service is called in to investigate,”I said. “On second thought, maybe I should just stick with the comic book idea.”
    “Yeah. I don’t want to end up with a criminal record just to get a good grade in physics,”Nora said.
    “Very sensible,”I agreed, tipping my face back and closing my eyes against the bright sun.
    “So, tell me more about Finn,”Nora said.
    “Finn? What do you want to know?”
    “What’s he like?”
    I considered this. “He jokes around a lot. Finn’s almost never serious about anything. And he’s really into computer games. He plays them constantly. Oh, and he’s developed a few games, too, all of which were huge sellers.”
    Nora was obviously impressed. She pushed her sunglasses back on her head again and looked at me. “Are you serious?”
    I nodded “Finn’s really talented. Most of the kids at Geek High are. Of course, he also has appalling judgment and is dating this complete ditz who goes to Orange Cove High, for no other reason than the fact that she’s pretty and she’ll talk to him,”I said.
    I reached into the cooler and pulled out an icy-cold bottle of water, twisted off the cap, and took a sip.
    “Does Finn know your friend Charlie likes him?”Nora asked.
    I started, which caused me to pour water straight down the top of my bathing suit.
    “Ack!”I said as the cold water hit my sun-warmed skin.
    Nora handed me a towel, which I used to mop up the spilled water.
    “How did you know about that?”I asked.
    “It’s pretty obvious. I could tell from the way she looks at him,”Nora said.
    “Really?”I asked. I knew Charlie would not be happy to hear that. Not that I had any intention of telling her.
    Nora nodded. “Yeah. I’m surprised he hasn’t noticed.”
    “I’m not. For such a smart guy, Finn can be completely clueless,”I said. I leaned back on my elbows again. Now that the initial shock of the cold water had passed, it actually felt pretty good to cool off. I eyed the water, wondering if it was time for a dip.
    “What’s Charlie like?”Nora asked.
    “Charlie? She’s amazing. She’s smart and funny and a really talented painter. You should see her work,”I said. “Lately, she’s been painting on these huge canvases. They’re pretty cool.”
    “I like her hair,”Nora said.
    “Yeah, she always has it dyed some wacky color,”I said. “She changes it so often, I can never even remember what the color of the day is.”
    “Have you been friends for a long time?”
    “Four years. Ever since seventh grade, when I transferred to Geek Middle. I met Charlie on my first day of school, and we’ve been best friends pretty much ever since,”I said.
    “That’s cool,”Nora said, and I thought she sounded a little wistful.
    “Do you have close friends back home in Boston?”I asked.
    “Yeah, I had a pretty tight group of friends. And we still text and stuff. But I feel so far away from everyone now,”Nora said. She sat up, hunching her shoulders, and dug her toes into the sand.
    “This whole move has been really hard on you, huh?”I said sympathetically.
    Nora smiled ruefully. “I’m sorry. You’re probably tired of hearing me complain about it. I’m tired of hearing me complain about it.”
    I shook my head. “Not at all. But I’ll tell you what—let’s just have a really fun day today. Maybe Orange Cove will start to grow on you.”
    “It’s already growing on me. I just have to get used to how hot it is down here,”Nora said.
    “Do you want to go for a swim?”I asked,