The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green Page B

wallet? It could be like that—”
    The warning bell rings before either Samantha or I can laugh.
    â€œTo be continued,” I tell them as I slam my locker door shut.
    All three of us jump when we see that Chris Bollmer is standing there. He’s wearing the same thing he always wears: jeans, a T-shirt, and a black long-sleeved hoodie. Not that I pay that much attention to Chris Bollmer, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him not wearing that black hoodie. I once overheard someone say that he wears it because it covers the burn scars on his arms from when he blew himself up in that manhole.
    â€œJeez, Bollmer,” Samantha mutters. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”
    Lindsay glares at him. “Were you eavesdropping on us? How long have you been standing there?”
    â€œI wasn’t eavesdropping on you. I’ve only been here for a couple of seconds.”
    I study his face. I’m not sure I believe him. He looks like he’s telling the truth, but then again, he always looks like such a lost little puppy when he’s near Lindsay, so it’s kind of hard to know what’s really going on in that head of his.
    â€œThen what do you want?” Lindsay demands.
    Samantha and I exchange glances. But I wonder what Samantha’s thinking. I know what I’m thinking: I’m relieved I’ve never had a stalker.
    â€œI just need to know why,” Chris says.
    â€œWhy what?” Lindsay asks.
    â€œWhy do you let Megan treat you the way she did yesterday? Why don’t you ever stand up to her?”
    She furrows her brow, and then lets out a laugh. “Are you kidding me? Stand up to her? That just makes her want to do it more. You should know that. Look, I appreciate that you want to help me, Chris, I really do. But unless Megan Crowley moves or gets kicked out of school, she is never going to stop picking on me. If I just lay low and stay out of her way, I can manage. And that is why I don’t stand up to her. I’m sorry if that’s not what you want to hear, but that is the truth.”
    â€œNo,” Chris argues. “You’re wrong. If you roll over every time she starts in on you, she’ll never stop. But if you show her that you’re not going to take it, she’ll back down. I’m telling you.”
    As Chris is saying this, people start spilling into the hallway before the next bell. Lindsay’s eyes are darting around in all directions, and I know she’s checking to see if Megan or any of her cronies are around. She’s too late, though. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Megan at the other end of the hall, and she’s strutting toward us with her well, well, well, what do we have here? look on her face. I swear, it’s like Megan can smell when Lindsay is vulnerable.
    â€œAw, look at this,” Megan announces in an extra-loud voice. “Are we having a lover’s quarrel?” She inserts herself between them, putting an arm around each of their shoulders. “You know, if you’re having problems, all you have to do is kiss and make up.” She puts her hand on the back of Lindsay’s head and pushes it toward Chris’s face, but Lindsay ducks out from under her arm. When she stands back up again, her face is bright red and her eyes look wild, as if she’s been possessed.
    â€œDon’t you touch me!” Lindsay screams. She hesitates for a split second, then stands up tall and gets in close to Megan’s face. “Are you still peeing in your pants, Megan? Because they make diapers for grown-ups, you know. I’d be happy to pick some up for you the next time I’m at the drugstore.”
    Megan’s face flushes, and the corners of her mouth turn up in a snarl. “You do not want to start a war with me, Fart Girl.”
    Lindsay laughs, even though her eyes are daggers. “You started one a long time ago, Soggy Bottoms.”
    A small crowd has