looks at us, so she has to shut up.
I’m hyper aware of M all through class. Even more than usual. For one thing, she looks totally hot in that green sweater. But mostly I’m trying to figure out if there’s anything off about her expression when she looks at me. She catches me staring and frowns a question at me that I can’t answer. Not yet.
When class finally ends, I turn to M to explain—or maybe to ask her to explain—but her friend Deb immediately starts talking to her about Mark Lennox, a guy on the football team, asking stuff like if M thinks he likes her. M sends me a little nonverbal apology but keeps listening.
It ticks me off, but not exactly at M. I mean, Deb is one of her best friends and M isn’t the kind of girl to blow off a friend needing advice. But I really want to talk to her and we’re in different classes next period.
Deb finally winds down and M says something encouraging to her and then it’s just the two of us together in the hallway. Surrounded by a whole lot of other people on their way to second period.
But instead of telling her what Sean said, like I planned, I hear myself asking, “So, how did it go last night?”
She gives a cute little shrug and a smile that makes me want to kiss her. “It was fine, I guess. I finished catching them up on U.S. History, then we talked some more about, um, Ireland.” That’s our code for Mars these days.
“Learn anything interesting?” I want to ask about Sean, ask if he really walked her home again, but I don’t. I’m not sure why.
“I did, actually. I’ll tell you about it later when we can be, uh, private.” We’re already at the door of her Computer classroom. How did that happen?
“Yeah, we’ll talk later.” Then just before running off to Spanish, I blurt out, “I’m just glad you made it home okay.”
She stares at me and opens her mouth like she’s going to say something, but I just shoot her a tight smile and walk away, feeling like an even bigger jerk than Sean.
I trust M. I absolutely trust her. So why am I letting Sean make me act like a jealous idiot?
Maybe because I really am a jealous idiot? Crap.
C HAPTER 12
efrin (EF-rin): Hell; used as a mild curse
I stared after Rigel, wondering what he’d meant by that last comment. It sounded like he already knew Sean walked me home again last night, even though I hadn’t had a chance to tell him. Had Molly said something? He’d been late getting to Geometry, so he must have been talking to somebody.
Great. Just great.
I was so distracted when I sat down at my computer, I nearly forgot to ground myself on the table leg before touching it. I’d already fried one computer this semester and I knew Mr. Morrison—who was Bri’s dad and really nice (for a teacher)—would be upset if I broke another one.
I hurried off when the bell rang, so I could explain to Rigel before English. Surely he wouldn’t be mad once I explained how Sean had insisted because of some dumb idea that the “Princess” shouldn’t be walking alone at night. And that he hadn’t made any kind of pass at me or anything.
Maybe if I could convince Rigel that Sean wasn’t at all interested in me romantically, the two of them could actually be friends. That would sure make my life easier, plus it would be fun if the four of us could do stuff together.
I imagined us all going to Dream Cream or over to Rigel’s or the O’Garas’ house. Rigel and I could both learn about life on Mars and we could tell Sean and Molly stuff about Jewel, and Indiana—and Earth. With that hopeful picture in mind, I started rehearsing my explanation for Rigel when I saw him coming toward me.
“Rigel, I really was going to—” I began, when he cut me off.
“No, M, it’s okay. I’m sorry I was such an ass, saying that and then leaving.” He held my gaze and took my hand so I’d know he meant it. “It’s just, well, Sean made a crack this morning about you asking him
I’m hyper aware of M all through class. Even more than usual. For one thing, she looks totally hot in that green sweater. But mostly I’m trying to figure out if there’s anything off about her expression when she looks at me. She catches me staring and frowns a question at me that I can’t answer. Not yet.
When class finally ends, I turn to M to explain—or maybe to ask her to explain—but her friend Deb immediately starts talking to her about Mark Lennox, a guy on the football team, asking stuff like if M thinks he likes her. M sends me a little nonverbal apology but keeps listening.
It ticks me off, but not exactly at M. I mean, Deb is one of her best friends and M isn’t the kind of girl to blow off a friend needing advice. But I really want to talk to her and we’re in different classes next period.
Deb finally winds down and M says something encouraging to her and then it’s just the two of us together in the hallway. Surrounded by a whole lot of other people on their way to second period.
But instead of telling her what Sean said, like I planned, I hear myself asking, “So, how did it go last night?”
She gives a cute little shrug and a smile that makes me want to kiss her. “It was fine, I guess. I finished catching them up on U.S. History, then we talked some more about, um, Ireland.” That’s our code for Mars these days.
“Learn anything interesting?” I want to ask about Sean, ask if he really walked her home again, but I don’t. I’m not sure why.
“I did, actually. I’ll tell you about it later when we can be, uh, private.” We’re already at the door of her Computer classroom. How did that happen?
“Yeah, we’ll talk later.” Then just before running off to Spanish, I blurt out, “I’m just glad you made it home okay.”
She stares at me and opens her mouth like she’s going to say something, but I just shoot her a tight smile and walk away, feeling like an even bigger jerk than Sean.
I trust M. I absolutely trust her. So why am I letting Sean make me act like a jealous idiot?
Maybe because I really am a jealous idiot? Crap.
C HAPTER 12
efrin (EF-rin): Hell; used as a mild curse
I stared after Rigel, wondering what he’d meant by that last comment. It sounded like he already knew Sean walked me home again last night, even though I hadn’t had a chance to tell him. Had Molly said something? He’d been late getting to Geometry, so he must have been talking to somebody.
Great. Just great.
I was so distracted when I sat down at my computer, I nearly forgot to ground myself on the table leg before touching it. I’d already fried one computer this semester and I knew Mr. Morrison—who was Bri’s dad and really nice (for a teacher)—would be upset if I broke another one.
I hurried off when the bell rang, so I could explain to Rigel before English. Surely he wouldn’t be mad once I explained how Sean had insisted because of some dumb idea that the “Princess” shouldn’t be walking alone at night. And that he hadn’t made any kind of pass at me or anything.
Maybe if I could convince Rigel that Sean wasn’t at all interested in me romantically, the two of them could actually be friends. That would sure make my life easier, plus it would be fun if the four of us could do stuff together.
I imagined us all going to Dream Cream or over to Rigel’s or the O’Garas’ house. Rigel and I could both learn about life on Mars and we could tell Sean and Molly stuff about Jewel, and Indiana—and Earth. With that hopeful picture in mind, I started rehearsing my explanation for Rigel when I saw him coming toward me.
“Rigel, I really was going to—” I began, when he cut me off.
“No, M, it’s okay. I’m sorry I was such an ass, saying that and then leaving.” He held my gaze and took my hand so I’d know he meant it. “It’s just, well, Sean made a crack this morning about you asking him
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