“I was thinking we should do a back-to-school dance this Friday,” Lauren says. “Something fun.”
Olivia stretches. She’s lost the cardigan, and her belly button is practically poking out of her shirt. Lauren notices too and gives her aPlease put that awaylook. Olivia ignores her and takes out a lollipop. Black licorice. Like Charlie’s Swedish Fish, she always has them on hand. “I already checked with Mr. Johnson. He said it’s fine,” Lauren says.
“I think that’s good,” Charlie says. “Let’s call it Fall Back.”
“I don’t get it,” Olivia says. She is sliding the lollipop over her teeth, a move that she knows majorly bugs Charlie. Apparently Olivia’s trying to get a rise out of her, probably payback for making a fuss about Ben this morning. I hate, hate, hate, the way that guys keep coming between my two best friends.
“Like the time?” Charlie says, although what she means is “Duh.” She sends me an exasperated look that Olivia doesn’tcatch. I shrug it off. I generally do when Charlie puts me in the middle of her current Olivia annoyance.
Truth be told, I’m not paying much attention either. I’m thinking about Rob’s knee next to mine this morning. How being close to him, even thethoughtof being close to him, makes my palms start sweating and my heart feel like it’s going to beat right out of my chest. What would have happened if we were the only two people in the room this morning? If he had leaned a little closer?
“Hello, Rose?” Charlie says. “What do you think of Fall Back?”
I blink. “I like it, I guess.”
“Does anyone know what our budget looks like?” Charlie snorts and mutters the word “attention” under her breath.
Lauren pulls out a folder and hands it to Charlie, and they start talking about money.
“So what’s going on with Rob?” Olivia asks, lowering her voice so Charlie can’t hear. She slips her phone into her bag and squints at me.
“I don’t know. I mean, we’re friends.”
“Yeah,” Olivia says, “but you guys looked kind of cozy this morning.”
I shrug, trying to prove I don’t care. I can tell my nonchalant act is fooling no one.
“This is a nightmare,” Charlie announces, turning to us. “And why is no one helping me here?”
Olivia wrinkles her nose. “I’m hungry. I can’t think when I’m hungry.”
“It’s barely three o’clock, O.” Charlie holds up her watch to prove it.
“I know, but I didn’t even get to eat my salad. Ben was…”
Charlie waves her hand in the air and cuts her off. “Listen, guys. I thought being SAC this year meant we were going to take it seriously.” She crosses her arms. “Or I’d have asked other people to do it with me.”
“Yeah? Who?” Olivia rotates her lollipop and smiles pointedly.
“Whatever.” Charlie hands Lauren the folder. “This Friday. Fall Back. Let’s email to divide up the supplies and ask Mr. Johnson if eight o’clock is okay.” Lauren gives Charlie a little salute that I can tell really annoys her. She does this thing with her mouth when she’s angry. She kind of sticks out her chin and sets her jaw.
“See you guys tomorrow,” Lauren says. She slings her backpack over her shoulder and gives us a quick wave, tucking the SAC folder under her arm and disappearing out of the PL.
“That went well.” Olivia tosses her lollipop into the trash can. It misses, and she has to go pry it off the carpet.
“Seriously?” Charlie says, watching her. “Can we just get out of here?”
“What have I been saying?” Olivia looks at me for confirmation.
The three of us start toward upper. The parking lot is practically deserted. Soccer practice hasn’t started yet. It won’t until next week, and Rob and Jake skipped last period to go surfing. I think about mentioning dinner with Rob tonight but decide against it. For just a little while longer, I want to keep it to myself.
“Cal Block?” Charlie asks when we’ve reached the cars.
California Blockade is a restaurant near school that we have been going to since the seventh grade. It’s Mexican, the best in town, and they have thisquesodip that we all love. We call it “the specialS,” although I can’t quite remember why. I think it had something to do with “siesta,” but I could be wrong. The three of us always get the exact same thing: two orders of the specialSand one guacamole.
“Yess,” Olivia says.
“I swear if you marry my brother, and we become related, I am getting you a speech therapist.”
