was true. Sort of. Jules had switched my ringtone earlier that week ("Omigod, how can you not know this song? It totally changed my life-I'm so jealous you get to listen to it for the first time...") and I really didn't know how to change it back. On the other hand-and this was something I could never admit to Gwen, especially when she was holding something sharp-I kind of liked the cheesy Top Forty song Jules had chosen.
139
"I'll do it," Gwen volunteered, twirling the screwdriver like a baton.
Ignoring her, I checked the screen and frowned. I didn't recognize the number but that didn't surprise me. I'd been getting so many calls lately, it was impossible to keep them all straight.
Ever since Heidi's call the week before, my phone hadn't stopped ringing. At this point, I was pretty sure I was single-handedly keeping Verizon afloat. It started in the morning with Jules's routine wake-up-what-are-you-wearing-are-you-sure-you-don't-need-a-ride call, followed by a steady stream of random invitations, check-ins and late-breaking gossip. Each time I answered, I felt a new thrill of excitement.
"Hello?" I said.
"Hey, sweetie! What's up?" asked a high-pitched female voice. Without waiting for a response, it continued. "Listen, I talked to everyone else and they totally agree. You have to join."
"Wait, who-"
"I mean, I can't believe it's taken this long. Pep squad needs you! I'm sure you already know this but we practice Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, so just come to the gym after final bell tomorrow. You don't need to audition or anything, isn't that great?"
140
"Uh, yeah," I said, my head spinning. Pep squad? I was actually being asked to join pep squad-a serious A-list club reserved for the perfectly shaped, toned and color-coordinated. I'd never been invited to join anything-not even lame clubs like the calligraphy society or academic decathlon.
You can't even box-step without tripping, whispered a little voice inside my head.
I rubbed my arm, feeling the Skin underneath my cotton shirt.
My stomach curled with excitement. It would be okay. The Skin would make sure of it.
"Hey," I said into the phone. "Thanks a lot-I mean, that's really great news. But, um, who is this?"
A giggle shot straight through the receiver, piercing my ear. "Oh my god, you're too funny. It's Gina! Listen, I have to call Jules back. She wanted to tell you the news but since I'm a co-captain I totally pulled rank." Gina laughed again. "She was so pissed. See you tomorrow, sweetie!"
I snapped the phone shut. Gwen and Alex were staring at me.
"Who was that?" Gwen asked.
"Let me guess," Alex said, his face closed. "Tanner Mullins needs you to spot him."
Ever since I'd started attending lacrosse
141
games, Alex's teasing had become relentless. He'd diagnosed me with a deep-seated and potentially fatal case of mimbo-male bimbo-obsession, and brought it up whenever possible. It was beyond annoying, especially since Tanner and I weren't even going out. Or anything. I just liked to watch him play. He was, after all, team captain. And though I knew absolutely nothing about lacrosse, even I could tell he was gifted. What was so wrong about supporting local talent?
But no matter how many times I explained this, Alex wouldn't stop. Obviously, he hated Tanner just because he was a jock, which was wrong on so many levels I couldn't stand it.
My cheeks turned bright red. "Shut up. It was Gina Yonas."
"Who's that?" Alex asked. Was it my imagination or did he look relieved?
"Gina Yonas?" Gwen cut in before I had a chance to answer. "Since when do you even know Miss Pep?"
I shrugged. "I know her. We have PE together."
"Okay, let me rephrase," Gwen said slowly, placing a hand on her hip. A glint of challenge flickered across her face. "Since when does Gina Yonas know you?"
Gwen had a point. Gina Yonas and I had played
142
basketball, volleyball and soccer together for six straight months. But through all that dribbling, passing and kicking,
139
"I'll do it," Gwen volunteered, twirling the screwdriver like a baton.
Ignoring her, I checked the screen and frowned. I didn't recognize the number but that didn't surprise me. I'd been getting so many calls lately, it was impossible to keep them all straight.
Ever since Heidi's call the week before, my phone hadn't stopped ringing. At this point, I was pretty sure I was single-handedly keeping Verizon afloat. It started in the morning with Jules's routine wake-up-what-are-you-wearing-are-you-sure-you-don't-need-a-ride call, followed by a steady stream of random invitations, check-ins and late-breaking gossip. Each time I answered, I felt a new thrill of excitement.
"Hello?" I said.
"Hey, sweetie! What's up?" asked a high-pitched female voice. Without waiting for a response, it continued. "Listen, I talked to everyone else and they totally agree. You have to join."
"Wait, who-"
"I mean, I can't believe it's taken this long. Pep squad needs you! I'm sure you already know this but we practice Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, so just come to the gym after final bell tomorrow. You don't need to audition or anything, isn't that great?"
140
"Uh, yeah," I said, my head spinning. Pep squad? I was actually being asked to join pep squad-a serious A-list club reserved for the perfectly shaped, toned and color-coordinated. I'd never been invited to join anything-not even lame clubs like the calligraphy society or academic decathlon.
You can't even box-step without tripping, whispered a little voice inside my head.
I rubbed my arm, feeling the Skin underneath my cotton shirt.
My stomach curled with excitement. It would be okay. The Skin would make sure of it.
"Hey," I said into the phone. "Thanks a lot-I mean, that's really great news. But, um, who is this?"
A giggle shot straight through the receiver, piercing my ear. "Oh my god, you're too funny. It's Gina! Listen, I have to call Jules back. She wanted to tell you the news but since I'm a co-captain I totally pulled rank." Gina laughed again. "She was so pissed. See you tomorrow, sweetie!"
I snapped the phone shut. Gwen and Alex were staring at me.
"Who was that?" Gwen asked.
"Let me guess," Alex said, his face closed. "Tanner Mullins needs you to spot him."
Ever since I'd started attending lacrosse
141
games, Alex's teasing had become relentless. He'd diagnosed me with a deep-seated and potentially fatal case of mimbo-male bimbo-obsession, and brought it up whenever possible. It was beyond annoying, especially since Tanner and I weren't even going out. Or anything. I just liked to watch him play. He was, after all, team captain. And though I knew absolutely nothing about lacrosse, even I could tell he was gifted. What was so wrong about supporting local talent?
But no matter how many times I explained this, Alex wouldn't stop. Obviously, he hated Tanner just because he was a jock, which was wrong on so many levels I couldn't stand it.
My cheeks turned bright red. "Shut up. It was Gina Yonas."
"Who's that?" Alex asked. Was it my imagination or did he look relieved?
"Gina Yonas?" Gwen cut in before I had a chance to answer. "Since when do you even know Miss Pep?"
I shrugged. "I know her. We have PE together."
"Okay, let me rephrase," Gwen said slowly, placing a hand on her hip. A glint of challenge flickered across her face. "Since when does Gina Yonas know you?"
Gwen had a point. Gina Yonas and I had played
142
basketball, volleyball and soccer together for six straight months. But through all that dribbling, passing and kicking,
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