But—uh. Where the heck is the toilet? I’m scared to ask.
Lulu’s silver-contact-lensed eyes greet mine as she lowers herself onto a cushion. “You shouldn’t be afraid of joining Newspaper Club, Sara.”
Ever since she began hanging out with the artsy kids, Lulu does her makeup in this cool, bold way. Deep mauve eyeliner with shimmery dark eyeshadow. Her staple gold hoops dangle from her ears, matching the eccentric gold jewelry she’s collected on her fingers. She told me once her grandmother gave them to her, along with the knitted cap she’s wearing, a ribbon threaded through and tied neatly in the back.
I admire Lulu for having her own unique style. It’s hard to accomplish when you go to a school requiring uniforms.
I kneel on the cushion opposite her. “Uh, wait—how do you know I—?”
“There’s someone new who’s started showing interest in you.” She shuffles her cards. “Beware. This might cause trouble.”
What?Trouble?That’s the last thing I need. I’m already on thin ice with Dad and calculus, and he’s the one who told me to stay very far away from boy problems.
But my curiosity gets the best of me.
“Who?” I urge. “Is it Joe?”
She shrugs. Three cards fall from the deck, landing face down. “Or! Thiscouldmean it’ll be awesome.”
I crook a brow. So mysteriously vague. Which one is it?
Lulu flips the first card over. “This one saysstay away from the new kid. He’s no good for you.”
I lean over the table, inspecting. There’s a smiling gray moon on this card. How cute. That seems harmless enough, but wait—
“Where does it say that?” I scratch my head. “And which new kid? Is it Joe? Or Subwayboy—he’s also new.”
Instead of answering, she reveals the second card. “Ah, just as I thought.”
Thoughtwhat?
“What’s it say?” The eagerness in my voice is apparent. “Is it about Joe? Or Subwayboy? Or Patrick—?”
Lulu dips her head low, as if bowing to the cards, and closes her eyes. She stays like this for several seconds. Then, ever so slowly, she lifts her head. Her silver eyes bore into mine, and I stare back, waiting. If she’s going for suspense, it’s working. My fingertips tap the table nervously.
“It says,” she says breathily, “you’re gonnadie.”
I reel back. “What! Lulu, come on.”
“Oh, no, sorry.” She squints at the card, nose hovering inches from it. Then her head jerks upright. “I always mess this one up.”
She falls quiet, full concentration mode activated. I inch closer, antsy, wondering if there’s something about this card that I can interpret myself. The image looks kind of like a court jester, and just as I’m racking my brain to figure out what it could mean, she slams her palms on the table, scaring thebejeezusout of me.
“A-ha!” She snaps her fingers. “It sayssomeone will try to steal your man!”
My nose crinkles. What on earth? That can’t be right.
“Who?” If it’s true, then I need context. “Can you be more specific?”
Lulu moves her hands over the cards as though she’s fanning a flame. “Go in peace, child. Your fortune has been read.”
“Wait, Lulu—”
“May the wind in the east combine with the one in the west.” She slaps her hands together over her head, closing her eyes. “And may you have better outcomes than your terrible fortune!”
“Hold on—”
Before I know what’s happening, she stands, then kicks open the door. It hits the wall with a loudthud.
