else did I see? Maybe disgust. I didn’t know. Mrs. Luna didn’t move, so I dashed out.
Through the maze of mostly empty halls, I ran as fast as I could to my locker in a dead-end alcove. I slumped to the floor and gazed out the ceiling-to-floor window at the browning grass turning dormant for the winter. I tried to think of anything but Mrs. Luna. I slapped my hands over my face. I squeezed my eyes. I forced her picture out of my head. But that made Ricky York reappear, standing like a boxer in the second before a knockout blow.
Then I heard a voice in my head – loud and commanding like my dog trainer voice, only dark and depressing. The nasty voice that attacked Ricky, now turning on me. No wonder Maddy didn’t want you for a friend. You’re ugly, and you’re rotten, and now the whole drama club knows. It’s just like Grandma said; only it’s you, not Taylor. Your fool’s voice gave you away.
***
Todd stopped me before I got on the bus that afternoon. “Hey, what’s up with that Ricky kid?” he said, smiling.
“Nothing,” I said and turned to board the bus.
“Wait! What about doing Creeper tonight?”
I didn’t care. “Fine.”
“Same time, same place.”
I got on the bus and sat next to Justine.
“What was that about?” she asked.
“What?”
She nodded her head toward Todd as he walked down the aisle.
I waited till he passed. “Just something about the play,” I lied.
“Are you guys getting to be buddies or what?”
“Of course not,” I lied again.
She let that drop. Then she started trying to talk me into doing a dance routine with her in the talent show. Justine loves dancing. She used to have me record dance moves from music videos so she could practice them when her mom wasn’t home. She says dancing lifts her up and carries her to a happier place. But not me. Her living room was one thing, but I’d never do it in public.
“No way,” I said.
“Please, Dani? I’ll teach you. You’ll look great!”
“I’d make a fool out of myself,” I said, shaking my head “No” the whole time we were talking. “Uh-uh. No way. Never.”
She said, “Please” and “C’mon, she even tried “Chicken!” But she finally gave up and changed the subject. “I think my mom’s finally going to let me take a modern dance class.”
Justine had always wanted dance lessons, but her mom wouldn’t let her. Now, Mrs. Hammond was starting to get back to normal, only less strict.
“That’s great, Justine,” I said, and I meant it.
“We’re going to visit a dance studio this afternoon, then we’re going out to dinner.”
“Excellent.”
I was relieved I wouldn’t have to lie to her again later. Little did I know that night Bobby would confuse a soap bar for an egg, and Justine and everyone would soon know everything.
now
let the punishment – er, service – begin
I’m not looking forward to starting community service today, exactly one week before Christmas, but I’m trying to be positive – if only about getting it over with. Mom says the holidays are the busy season at New Horizons, the local food bank and homeless shelter for women and children. So that’s another bright side: being busy will make the time go faster.
First I have to make it through the last hour of school before the start of winter break. Not an easy task. The entire period will be taken up with an assembly previewing the best acts in tonight’s talent show, including Justine’s dance act, featuring her new gal pal and dance partner, Kailyn Whitehead.
I trudge into the buzzing auditorium with my sixth-period class, all of us filing into our seats and behaving like we’re in church because our assembly-hating math teacher has threatened us with detentions. Kids with more lenient teachers push each other, and switch seats to get nearer their friends, and stand to wave at people still coming in.
When the lights go out, it gets loud. People scream and whistle as balding, pear-shaped Mrs. Addison,
Through the maze of mostly empty halls, I ran as fast as I could to my locker in a dead-end alcove. I slumped to the floor and gazed out the ceiling-to-floor window at the browning grass turning dormant for the winter. I tried to think of anything but Mrs. Luna. I slapped my hands over my face. I squeezed my eyes. I forced her picture out of my head. But that made Ricky York reappear, standing like a boxer in the second before a knockout blow.
Then I heard a voice in my head – loud and commanding like my dog trainer voice, only dark and depressing. The nasty voice that attacked Ricky, now turning on me. No wonder Maddy didn’t want you for a friend. You’re ugly, and you’re rotten, and now the whole drama club knows. It’s just like Grandma said; only it’s you, not Taylor. Your fool’s voice gave you away.
***
Todd stopped me before I got on the bus that afternoon. “Hey, what’s up with that Ricky kid?” he said, smiling.
“Nothing,” I said and turned to board the bus.
“Wait! What about doing Creeper tonight?”
I didn’t care. “Fine.”
“Same time, same place.”
I got on the bus and sat next to Justine.
“What was that about?” she asked.
“What?”
She nodded her head toward Todd as he walked down the aisle.
I waited till he passed. “Just something about the play,” I lied.
“Are you guys getting to be buddies or what?”
“Of course not,” I lied again.
She let that drop. Then she started trying to talk me into doing a dance routine with her in the talent show. Justine loves dancing. She used to have me record dance moves from music videos so she could practice them when her mom wasn’t home. She says dancing lifts her up and carries her to a happier place. But not me. Her living room was one thing, but I’d never do it in public.
“No way,” I said.
“Please, Dani? I’ll teach you. You’ll look great!”
“I’d make a fool out of myself,” I said, shaking my head “No” the whole time we were talking. “Uh-uh. No way. Never.”
She said, “Please” and “C’mon, she even tried “Chicken!” But she finally gave up and changed the subject. “I think my mom’s finally going to let me take a modern dance class.”
Justine had always wanted dance lessons, but her mom wouldn’t let her. Now, Mrs. Hammond was starting to get back to normal, only less strict.
“That’s great, Justine,” I said, and I meant it.
“We’re going to visit a dance studio this afternoon, then we’re going out to dinner.”
“Excellent.”
I was relieved I wouldn’t have to lie to her again later. Little did I know that night Bobby would confuse a soap bar for an egg, and Justine and everyone would soon know everything.
now
let the punishment – er, service – begin
I’m not looking forward to starting community service today, exactly one week before Christmas, but I’m trying to be positive – if only about getting it over with. Mom says the holidays are the busy season at New Horizons, the local food bank and homeless shelter for women and children. So that’s another bright side: being busy will make the time go faster.
First I have to make it through the last hour of school before the start of winter break. Not an easy task. The entire period will be taken up with an assembly previewing the best acts in tonight’s talent show, including Justine’s dance act, featuring her new gal pal and dance partner, Kailyn Whitehead.
I trudge into the buzzing auditorium with my sixth-period class, all of us filing into our seats and behaving like we’re in church because our assembly-hating math teacher has threatened us with detentions. Kids with more lenient teachers push each other, and switch seats to get nearer their friends, and stand to wave at people still coming in.
When the lights go out, it gets loud. People scream and whistle as balding, pear-shaped Mrs. Addison,
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