Back Online by Laura Dower

it back. “I’m impressed. You mean you can do championship gymnastics and draw like this?”
    â€œThanks,” Leyli said quietly.
    Madison knew that sharing the book wasn’t about showing off—it was about letting her in on a secret. Leyli wanted to be Madison’s good friend.
    â€œI write and draw a lot in the book when I go away for gymnastics competitions. I have to wait around sometimes for hours , and it’s the easiest way to pass the time,” Leyli said. “Do you draw?”
    â€œI love to draw,” Madison said. “But the only thing I can draw is a stick porcupine.”
    Leyli laughed. “What?”
    â€œYou know, with all the quills and that cute snout. I learned from some how-to-draw book. And I like to paint, even if I’m not that good at it. Mostly I spend too much time on the computer.”
    â€œSo you’re a graphic designer then!” Leyli said cheerily.
    â€œYeah, well, that sounds fancy. Basically, I make pictures for friends and family online. But that’s about it. My dad’s a tech guy.”
    Leyli nudged Madison. “Incoming,” she whispered. A boy was making a beeline for them. He looked unfamiliar, and Madison knew he wasn’t in eighth grade. He was shorter than most kids in the room, so he was probably in sixth.
    â€œHey,” the boy said.
    â€œHey yourself,” Madison said half under her breath.
    â€œWhat’s up?” the boy said.
    â€œWe were actually talking,” Madison said, “before you interrupted us.”
    â€œYeah,” Leyli added. “We were talking.”
    â€œAbout me?” the boy cracked.
    â€œYeah, I don’t think so,” Madison said with a snarl.
    â€œWell, I was just being polite and saying hey,” the boy said. “I mean, it is a free country. You don’t have to be nasty when someone says hello.”
    â€œNasty? Free?” Madison commented. She cracked a big grin. “That’s a good one. So that means you’re free … to go now.”
    Leyli smiled. “What’s your name?” she asked. “Are you a six or seven?”
    â€œI’m six-D. Name’s Joe.”
    â€œHey Joe.” Madison let out a humongous sigh. “Look, we really don’t have time to talk.”
    â€œYour name is Madison Finn. I know who you are,” Joe said, pointing to Madison.
    â€œWhoa,” Leyli’s eyes got huge, and she burst into laughter. “He knows who you are, Maddie.”
    Madison made a face. “Okay, now you’re just being creepy, stalker kid.”
    â€œYou’re friends with my cousin Dan. That’s how I know you,” Joe said. “I see you all over school. I’m not creepy. You’re just rude.”
    â€œYou’re Dan’s cousin?” Madison said. “Are you close?”
    â€œNot really, but our families had a dinner the other weekend. He was there. He showed me some pics from the animal clinic. I saw you in a couple of them.”
    Leyli smiled at Maddie. “What’s that about?”
    â€œWhat?” Madison said quickly. “We’re friends. Of course he’d have my picture. Okay, Joe, time to go! Get lost, twerp.”
    â€œMaddie, don’t,” Leyli said. She apologized to Joe. “She doesn’t mean that. Sincerely.”
    â€œI totally mean it,” Madison said. “You should find another seat, Joe, like in the Kingdom of Far, Far Away.”
    â€œHey, I actually like that movie,” Joe said. “I relate to Shrek. Who do you relate to?”
    â€œDonkey!” Madison and Leyli said at the same time. They laughed.
    â€œDonkey! Ha!” Joe said, faking the Shrek accent from the movie. “Well, later.” He moved to the seat behind the girls.
    â€œOh, Maddie, that Joe kid just loooooooves you,” Leyli whispered, batting her eyelashes.
    Madison felt uncomfortable. “No one loves me. Come