9781250209153

Scuttlebaum’s eyes are popping. I feel like I’m staring down a basilisk. I
do the only thing I can think of: shrug and back away from her, acting like
I’ve just done the most innocent thing on earth.
“Good timing,” I say casually. “That gum just lost its flavor.”
There’s an outbreak of gasping and giggling. I collapse into my seat,
with Scuttlebaum glaring at me like a tomato-faced demon.
“Detention, Ms. Zajac,” she snarls. “How about tomorrow, just to delay
your break from starting?”
I don’t care about the punishment, even though Danielle will be on my
ass about missing practice. Everyone is staring at me, and I know my face is
flaming red, but the only person I manage to connect with is Irene.
She stares across the room at me with the most curious expression on
her face. I hold her eyes for a moment, then look down at my homework,
perfectly graded with an A+ on top.
By the time I finish practice that day, the entire senior class seems to have
heard about my wildly stupid gesture. A record number of people show up
to watch the end of our practice, and I can’t figure out why until I see that
Irene is back in their ranks. Danielle, who has barely spoken to me since
practice started, looks resentfully delighted.
Irene approaches when I’m yanking off my ankle braces. I can feel
every eye in the gym on us. I don’t look up until the last second.
Her dark hair is in its usual high ponytail, her tank top soaked with
sweat, her biceps swelling the slightest bit.
“They think we’re going to have some dramatic reconciliation,” she tells
me.
“Gross.”
We hover on the spot. Then Irene says, “Let me walk you to your car.”
We leave our nosy classmates behind and make our way out to the
parking lot. We busy ourselves with zipping up our jackets and chugging
our water bottles. It’s not until we’re standing by my car that Irene speaks.
“You didn’t have to do that, Scottie.”