The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride

and return like nothing else could.
    â€œIn what could be called the biggest breakup of the year, he dumped her at lunch yesterday. Right in front of everyone, which is totally rude, if you ask me.” I sighed, fluttering my hand to my chest in fake empathy. “All for some other girl.”
    Elle raised her eyebrows. “Well, that makes it a little more interesting.”
    â€œHell, yeah,” Coop said, and then whistled. “So … you think I have a chance, Tess? If I move in while Jessie’s feeling defeated, I could do the whole concerned-and-supportive thing for a few weeks and then, when she’s crying on my shoulder, make my stealth move. She’d never know what hit her.”
    â€œBecause you’re such a stud, right?” Elle laughed. It was a real laugh and caught me by surprise.
    â€œYou haven’t been around for a while, Elle.” Coop leaned back and put his hands behind his head. “I am the most sought-after freshman in the building.”
    Elle threw her napkin. It soared across the table and landed in Coop’s face.
    â€œIt’s not nice to lie to your sister,” Elle said.
    As Coop threw the napkin back at Elle, Mrs. Pendelton made her way into the room with a casserole dish full of steaming manicotti, followed closely by Mr. Pendelton, who was carrying an open bottle of wine.
    â€œWe’ve been having all of Elle’s favorites,” Mrs. Pendelton said as she placed the dish on a metal stand in the center of the table. “Dig in, everyone.”
    When the doorbell rang, Coop jumped up and ran for the door. Elle’s shoulders stiffened as several children’s voices sang out, “Trick-or-treat,” the sound echo-echo-echoing off the walls of the dining room.
    â€œI thought you were going to keep the porch lights off .” Mrs. Pendelton’s eyes narrowed, directed at her husband. “With all the media, the last thing we need is—”
    â€œI put the candy away.” Mr. Pendelton sighed, pushed his chair back, and stood, heading for the door. “I made sure the switch was down.”
    â€œDad.” Elle’s voice was hard, the word short and sharp. “It was Coop’s idea, and I told him it was okay. Just leave them on.”
    The front door clicked shut, and Coop rounded the corner, bumping into his father. He looked at all of us, silent and tense. “What?” he asked. “What’d I do?”
    Mr. Pendelton shook his head, the creases around his eyes making him look sad and old. “Nothing, Cooper.”
    â€œSit.” Mrs. Pendelton waved a fork in the air. “Eat.”
    We all served ourselves in silence and began eating. Elle’s father and I made the obligatory comments about how wonderful everything tasted, while Coop and Elle kicked each other under the table.
    â€œSo,” Elle’s mother said into her napkin as she wiped her mouth, “how have you been, Tessa?”
    â€œFine,” I said. “Doing the whole school thing, and that’s pretty much it.”
    â€œOh, now, don’t lie,” Coop said. “There’s a guy in her life.”
    Elle stopped chewing and turned her head sideways slightly.
    â€œIsn’t that neat?” Elle’s father smiled and drummed the table with his fingers.
    â€œNeat?” Elle asked, her voice low. “You’re kidding, right?”
    I took a bite of manicotti, wishing Coop had kept his mouth shut.
    Elle put her fork down and pushed back in her seat. “What’s he like?” she asked.
    â€œHe’s not my boyfriend or anything.” I shrugged. “We’re in the same photography class.”
    Elle stared at me and said, “Hmm.” Then she picked up her fork and took another bite of her food. “Finally decided to give yourself up?”
    I moved a bite of salad to the back of my mouth and forced myself to swallow. “What is that supposed