Pink & Green is the New Black by Lisa Greenwald Page A

it,” he says as he turns on the light.
    We’re not in a closet. We’re in a giant room with a pool table and pinball machine. It also has an orange leather couch and high tables that look like leaves. It almost seems like a lounge in a swanky hotel.
    â€œCool.” I smile. “Really cool.”
    I need to come up with an excuse to get out of here. Maybe I’m hungry? I saw some chips on the table in the other room.
    â€œThanks,” he says. I feel him looking at me, but I don’t make eye contact. If I make eye contact, it’s all over.
    â€œWhy isn’t anyone hanging out in here?” I ask. “It’s so cool. Everyone is crowded in the other room.”
    â€œWe’re gonna open it up soon.” He slicks his hair back for the millionth time. “I wanted to show you first.”
    â€œReally?” I ask. That feels too big, too important. I don’t want to be that important to Travis.
    Maybe that’s how you know if you like someone. If you don’t want to be the most important person in the world to that person, you’re probably not that interested in going out with them.
    â€œCome on, let’s go tell everyone to come in,” he says. He makes it sound like we’re hosting the party together. But I don’t really care. I’m just grateful to leave this room and take a break from being alone with him for a few minutes.
    I follow him and, thankfully, he doesn’t grab my hand again.
    We’re back in the other room for two seconds when Erica and Zoe run up to me. Travis says that he’s going to check on the sodas and he’ll see me soon.
    â€œWe have to talk to you,” Erica says as soon as Travis is gone. “Privately.”
    This can’t be good.
    â€œWhat is it?” I ask, when we’re in the back corner near the tall gray armchair.
    â€œYou’re a sneak,” Erica says. “Going into another room alone with Travis. What about Yamir?”
    â€œNothing is happening with Travis,” I say. “We’re friends.” I force myself not to laugh. Erica acts like she’s on a reality TV show.
    It occurs to me that I should probably say the opposite—that nothing is happening with Yamir. That we don’t talk at all. That he’s probably going out with that girl Sienna. That’s the real truth.
    But I can’t bring myself to say that. I can’t even bring myself to think that.
    â€œAnyway,” I continue, “let’s talk about more important things. Like Zoe and Gavin.” I pause, and a genius idea comes to me out of the blue. “And who Erica should go to the Masquerade with. We need to find you someone awesome.”
    Erica rolls her eyes. “Oh Lordy. Lucy Desberg is my matchmaker now?”
    â€œShe’s been doing a good job for me,” Zoe admits.
    â€œWell, if you don’t want my help, that’s fine too.” I smile at Erica as sweetly as I can. It’s taken me eight years, but I finally know how to handle Erica Crane. That is a major accomplishment.
    â€œFine.” Erica folds her arms across her chest. “But if you don’t like Travis, then maybe I will. Zoe and I are BFFs, and it only makes sense that we have twin brothers for our boyfriends.”
    She kind of has a point. Maybe if I set Erica up with Travis, I’ll feel better.
    I think about that for a second. On the one hand, it’s nice to have Travis’s attention. On the other hand, it’s so stressful. But on a third hand, Travis is a nice guy, and Erica Crane is . . . Erica Crane.
    There has to be an answer.
    â€œLet’s just see how the party goes,” I say. “We don’t know who else is going to show up. The whole night is ahead of us.”
    Saying that gives me a sense of hope and excitement—combined with a sense of dread and fear. I guess that’s how I feel about life right now. Life as an eighth grader who will soon be