anything did happen to her at one of those meetings, I’d have a front-row seat to watch my best friend’s death.
I stumbled through the rest of the afternoon, feeling off kilter and out of focus. After school, I found myself dragging my feet as I walked to my locker. The halls cleared out around me as students took off to enjoy what was left of their afternoons before heading home for dinner and homework. I pulled a few books out of my locker and loaded them into my school bag before I realized I’d left my English book behind. I headed back to Mr. Avila’s classroom. He was already gone. The lights were off, but I spotted my book still sitting on the desk where I’d left it a few minutes before.
I tucked it into my school bag and headed back for the hallway. The sounds of an argument stopped me in my tracks.
“You’ve got to be freaking kidding me!” Ally’s high-pitched voice was strained with anger.
“What am I supposed to do, Ally? I have to get a job.” Amber’s voice rang through the halls, full of frustration.
“So schedule your burger-flipping for
after
practice!”
“I can’t.” Amber’s tone shifted into bitterness. “My step-mom wants me home every day by six to help with her kid. I have to figure out how to fit the job in between school and—”
“Seriously, Amber? You made a commitment to us.”
“If I don’t do this, I can’t stay at Coronado Prep!”
“Bull crap. We’re this close to qualifying for State,” Ally snapped. “You’re the captain!”
“You’ll do just fine without me,” Amber said quietly. “You’re the one with the gymnastic medals under her belt.”
“What is up with you?”
“I told you, it’s my step-mom—”
“No. You’ve been totally weirding out lately. Like, for months.”
I glanced out the door.
Amber stared at Ally, looking caught. “It’s—I’ve been dealing with some stuff lately, is all.”
Amber looked so lost, I felt an alien twinge of sympathy for her. Before I had time to think it through, I walked into the hall.
Amber and Ally saw me coming and clamped their mouths shut. Ally eyed me with distaste.
“You do realize it’s just cheerleading,” I said, giving Ally my most disdainful look. “I mean, technically your job entails jumping up and down and hollering for the football team which, correct me if I’m wrong, is what pretty much every spectator is doing, too.”
“Excuse me?” Ally’s eyes bulged, giving her horse-like face a strained look. “Like you would know anything about the discipline it takes to do what we do.” Ally turned her back on me and gave her ponytail a haughty flick. She stabbed Amber in the chest with her index finger. “You know, fine. Deal with your stuff alone. The team and I have way too much to prep for to take on your drama, too. Just don’t come crawling back to me in a month, hoping to rejoin the team. You leave now, you’re out for good.”
Ally stalked off down the hallway.
I turned toward Amber. Her face was a naked mask of pain. “Amber,” I started.
She spun on me, eyes flashing. “What the hell are you doing?” she hissed.
I took a step back. “Uh, I was trying to help you.”
“Don’t. I don’t want your help.” Amber glared at me for another second. Then she turned and fled down the hall.
Serves me right for trying,
I thought. But it wasn’t as easy to dismiss the misery on Amber’s face. I knew—too well—how fast someone’s life could change when Lilitu were involved.
Lucas was waiting for me near my car, concerned. The parking lot had nearly cleared out, but Lucas took one look at my face and sensed I didn’t want to talk. We drove home in near-silence. When we parked, I caught his hand and held it for a long moment.
“Thanks for not prying,” I said.
Lucas gave my hand a squeeze. “Just let me know if you want to talk. Or study for that Spanish test together.”
“That’s not a bad idea.” I gave him a watery smile.
I stumbled through the rest of the afternoon, feeling off kilter and out of focus. After school, I found myself dragging my feet as I walked to my locker. The halls cleared out around me as students took off to enjoy what was left of their afternoons before heading home for dinner and homework. I pulled a few books out of my locker and loaded them into my school bag before I realized I’d left my English book behind. I headed back to Mr. Avila’s classroom. He was already gone. The lights were off, but I spotted my book still sitting on the desk where I’d left it a few minutes before.
I tucked it into my school bag and headed back for the hallway. The sounds of an argument stopped me in my tracks.
“You’ve got to be freaking kidding me!” Ally’s high-pitched voice was strained with anger.
“What am I supposed to do, Ally? I have to get a job.” Amber’s voice rang through the halls, full of frustration.
“So schedule your burger-flipping for
after
practice!”
“I can’t.” Amber’s tone shifted into bitterness. “My step-mom wants me home every day by six to help with her kid. I have to figure out how to fit the job in between school and—”
“Seriously, Amber? You made a commitment to us.”
“If I don’t do this, I can’t stay at Coronado Prep!”
“Bull crap. We’re this close to qualifying for State,” Ally snapped. “You’re the captain!”
“You’ll do just fine without me,” Amber said quietly. “You’re the one with the gymnastic medals under her belt.”
“What is up with you?”
“I told you, it’s my step-mom—”
“No. You’ve been totally weirding out lately. Like, for months.”
I glanced out the door.
Amber stared at Ally, looking caught. “It’s—I’ve been dealing with some stuff lately, is all.”
Amber looked so lost, I felt an alien twinge of sympathy for her. Before I had time to think it through, I walked into the hall.
Amber and Ally saw me coming and clamped their mouths shut. Ally eyed me with distaste.
“You do realize it’s just cheerleading,” I said, giving Ally my most disdainful look. “I mean, technically your job entails jumping up and down and hollering for the football team which, correct me if I’m wrong, is what pretty much every spectator is doing, too.”
“Excuse me?” Ally’s eyes bulged, giving her horse-like face a strained look. “Like you would know anything about the discipline it takes to do what we do.” Ally turned her back on me and gave her ponytail a haughty flick. She stabbed Amber in the chest with her index finger. “You know, fine. Deal with your stuff alone. The team and I have way too much to prep for to take on your drama, too. Just don’t come crawling back to me in a month, hoping to rejoin the team. You leave now, you’re out for good.”
Ally stalked off down the hallway.
I turned toward Amber. Her face was a naked mask of pain. “Amber,” I started.
She spun on me, eyes flashing. “What the hell are you doing?” she hissed.
I took a step back. “Uh, I was trying to help you.”
“Don’t. I don’t want your help.” Amber glared at me for another second. Then she turned and fled down the hall.
Serves me right for trying,
I thought. But it wasn’t as easy to dismiss the misery on Amber’s face. I knew—too well—how fast someone’s life could change when Lilitu were involved.
Lucas was waiting for me near my car, concerned. The parking lot had nearly cleared out, but Lucas took one look at my face and sensed I didn’t want to talk. We drove home in near-silence. When we parked, I caught his hand and held it for a long moment.
“Thanks for not prying,” I said.
Lucas gave my hand a squeeze. “Just let me know if you want to talk. Or study for that Spanish test together.”
“That’s not a bad idea.” I gave him a watery smile.
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