Page 20

Lydia looks toward the ceiling as if she’s thinking. “What time? I have plans after school.”

“With a boy or with your other bestie?” I mock disgust whenever I talk about the fact that Lydia has two best friends and act like it bothers me when we both know it doesn’t.

Lydia looks back at me and rolls her eyes, but the smile on her face tells me she’s not actually annoyed. “First of all, my other bestie is a boy, so that question doesn’t even work. Second of all, stop being so jealous. You know you’re my number one girl.”

“So…” I raise my eyebrows since she didn’t actually answer my question.

“Yes, I’m hanging with my other bestie. No boys for me right now. I got my fill after homecoming, trust me.”

She wiggles her eyebrows and it makes me want to throw up. I don’t want to think about hooking up with any guys, let alone multiple in one night. I honestly don’t know how she does it.

“Don’t make that face. It’s all in good fun.”

“What face am I making? I’m not making a face.”

“You look like you’re going to throw up.”

I laugh since she’s exactly right. “Alright, fine, I was making a face. Guys are just so…” I wiggle my whole body to show my disgust.

Now Lydia laughs. “You’re not wrong, but they’re also easy.”

“Anyway… I’ll be home a little after seven. I’m guessing you’ll still be with your bestie at that point. Want to just come over whenever you’re done and we can have a sleepover?”

Lydia puts her hand on her chest in mock surprise. “A sleepover on a school night?” she asks sarcastically. “Just kidding. You know my mom won’t care. Sounds great.”

“Awesome. I’m going to need it after today. We’re doing work with our partners in chemistry for the first time since the Felicity Volcano erupted.”

Lydia reaches out and rubs my arm. “I’m sorry, babe. You have Mr. Byers, right? He’s super cool. Ask him if you can switch partners. I’m sure he’ll let you.”

“You really think so?”

“Totally. He did it when I had him. Not for me, but for someone else.”

“Okay, cool.” Now the only question is what lie I can make up about why I need to switch partners. The truth is not an option.

***

“I could really use a partner that’s on the basketball team. It will be easier to coordinate our schedules and stuff.” I hope my explanation is good enough for Mr. Byers. I literally missed the end of my lunch just so I could get here early and try to make this happen. As if that’s not all bad enough, my excuse doesn’t help me much, seeing as how there is only one other person in this class who plays basketball.

“As long as Samara, her partner, and your partner all agree, we can definitely make that happen.”

Samara’s lab partner is a guy who I work with at the ice cream shop, and even though I don’t know a ton about him, he seems to go with the flow so that should be fine. Felicity would have to be a masochist to put up a fight. So, my only worry is whether Samara will agree.

I get my answer when everyone files in and Mr. Byers immediately asks. Felicity’s resounding yes takes no time at all. My coworker looks between me and Felicity a few times then shrugs and agrees. Samara takes a little bit longer. She studies all three of us as if she’s weighing her options then sneers at me. I don’t know if this is a good sign or a bad sign, but she eventually mumbles “Sure,” which is good enough for Mr. Byers.

“Why did you ask to work with me?” Samara asks as soon as we sit down next to each other.

“I thought it would be easier with our basketball schedule.”

“But you hate me.”

Where the hell did she get that idea? “I don’t hate you. You hate me.”

“It’s semantics.” I don’t know what to say so I simply stare at Samara, causing her to giggle. “Do you know what that means? Or do you need the smarter of the two of us to spell it out for you?”

What the hell was I thinking? I should have said I needed to be with my coworker because we have similar work schedules. This is going to be a long year.

***