Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande

piece? Or we've got ice cream.”
    “No thanks.” It wasn't at all like hanging out with Teresa. She's always pretending to be on a diet, even though she's as skinny as a pencil. If this is how boys eat all the time, I could get used to hanging out with them.
    With Casey out of the room for a minute, I seized the opportunity to sneak over and study the pictures on the mantel again. Now that I knew his father was dead, I wanted a better look.
    But before I could do much spying, the front door slammed open and in burst the solution to at least one of my problems, although I didn't know it right away.
    “C? Get out here, you little rat! I'm gonna kill you!”

Nineteen
    “Hello, sister dear.”
    “Don't sister dear me, you brat. I hate your living guts. Why didn't you tell me?”
    She was huge—six foot at least—and other than that looked exactly like Casey except her curly black hair went all the way to her waist. She wore wire-rimmed glasses, camo pants, black sports sandals (which showed off her bright red toenails), and a black T-shirt that said United States of Lies.
    And right behind her—I'm not kidding—in walked the giant. The one who brings Ms. Shepherd her Starbucks— that guy. It was surreal.
    Casey leaned against the kitchen doorway and continued nonchalantly stuffing his face.
    “Start talking,” his sister demanded, “or Josh is gonna beat you to a bloody pulp.”
    Josh the Giant seemed as unimpressed by that news as Casey. “Any more?” he asked, nodding at Casey's plate.
    Casey jerked his thumb over his shoulder. The giant ambled past him into the kitchen.
    “Lab partner,” Casey said, in case I hadn't figured out who Josh was, which I hadn't. Obviously in their year Ms. Shepherd assigned partners by height.
    “Want some?” Casey asked his sister.
    “Don't change the subject,” she snapped.
    “Which is?” Casey asked calmly.
    “Which is the fact that I have to hear about this from Josh this morning, rather than from you, you maggot-headed ingrate. Why didn't you tell me? Half your class in revolt and you don't tell me? The creationists come to town and you don't think you'd better get me that information right away? What, are we not related anymore? Did I steal your inheritance or something?”
    “Be nice,” Casey answered, clearly enjoying his sister's outrage.
    “Nice?” she shouted. “You're lucky I don't pummel you, you little worm. Start talking. I want names, profiles, affiliations—everything you know and everything you're gonna find out for me, because now you owe me, you traitor. The school board meeting's tonight, and I need to come prepared.”
    Casey pointed his fork across the room. “Actually, Mena knows them a lot better than I do. Ask her.”
    NO. I widened my eyes at Casey and shook my head, but it was too late. His giant sister rounded on me.
    And she smiled—I swear—this big, friendly smile like the one their mother had given me earlier. And it's like her whole personality changed right before my eyes. If I hadn't been so afraid of her, I would have lovedthat smile. Instead it was like staring into the teeth of a shark.
    “You're Mena? The lab partner?” She looked me over. “How entirely excellent.” She strode toward me, hand outstretched. I shrank against the fireplace.
    “Fear not,” Casey told me. “Tranquilizer guns at the ready.”
    “Ignore the moron,” Kayla said cheerfully. “So nice to meet you.” She gripped my hand like I was made of metal. “So, you know these lunatics, huh? Unbelievable what society is turning out these days. But they picked the wrong teacher to mess with. I want all the dirt you have. Let's cut ‘em off at the legs.”
    “But I'm not—”
    “Go with ‘no comment,’ “ Casey advised. “Then run for the door while I distract her.”
    Kayla pressed on. “So, they're friends of yours?”
    I snorted. “No.”
    “Okay, enemies?”
    I wasn't so quick to answer that time. Kayla guessed the truth.
    “Great,”