Finally, Olivia thought, someone wh

Finally, Olivia thought, someone who isn't wear- ing black! She walked over and held out her hand. "Hi. Olivia Abbott."

The girl lifted her eyes from her book. She looked confused. "No, actually, my name's Camilla. Camilla Edmunson."

Olivia laughed. "No. I mean my name's Olivia," she explained. "Nice to meet you, Camilla."

Camilla made an I'm-such-a-dork face and shook Olivia's hand. "Sorry. I'm just really into this book."

Olivia sat down. "Isn't that the best? When you get so caught up in a book that you're, like, in a different world?"

"I know!" said Camilla eagerly. She held up the cover of her paperback: Random Access by Coal Knightley, The Second Book in The Cyborg Trilogy. "Ever read it?"

"Nope. Is it any good?" Olivia asked.

"Are you kidding?" Camilla cried. "This is my third time through!"

"That's exactly how I am with the Count Vira books." Olivia sighed. "You know--vampires, bloodsucking, frilly collars. They're sort of my secret vice."

"Don't worry." Camilla grinned. "Your secret's safe with me. As long as you don't tell anyone I can speak the Cyborg Beta language."

Olivia laughed. "It's a deal!"

The principal appeared, looking like school principals everywhere: bald head, short sleeves, bad tie.