BETHEL
Is there something in the water at SVJH?
I walked into school one day and EVERYONE was part of a COUPLE. Now all anybody can talk about is who’s going out with who and who gave somebody a note and GIGGLE GIGGLE GIGGLE!
It makes me SICK.
I’m glad I’LL never be that way.
“Doesn’t this look so good?” I asked when I sat down.
But Jessica and Damon didn’t seem to hear me. Whatever I had to say must have been a lot less interesting than what Damon was whispering about. I shrugged and focused on my lunch. I had to get used to being the odd girl out, I reasoned.
Just as I was taste testing the so-called vegetables on my plate, I heard someone walking up behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see who it was.
“Hey,” he said, with that killer smile.
“Hey, Jameel.”
“Did you get my note?” he asked. His warm, dark brown eyes sparkled, and I noticed how curly and full his eyelashes were. The sound track in my head started playing something sappy and slow.
“Yes,” I said dreamily. I was suddenly aware of Jessica and Damon turning their heads to listen. I straightened and stiffened. “Yes,” I said again in a more curt, polite tone. “And thank you. But I’m not going to the Beach Blowout.”
“But Bethel,” Jessica interrupted. “We already talked about this. You said you’re definitely going, remember?”
I gave her a look of death.
“She wants to go,” Jessica told Jameel, ignoring the look. “She loves to dance.”