Everyone nods. Except me. Because I don’t have an assignment. They forgot about me, which is mortifying, because I’m sitting right here.
“Um,” I pipe up. “What about me?”
Oliver leans forward and gives me a pointed look. Geez, who poured spoiled milk in his cereal? I’m not sure how to interpret this. Does he think I don’t deserve an assignment? Well, he’s wrong. I’m a great writer. And I’m going to prove it.
“Sara Lin, clueless as always.” Rose opens her notebook once again, leaning over to jot something down. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
Uh, hello? I’m saying something now.
I don’t say that aloud, though.
She sighs, heavy and dramatic, like I am a massive zit she’s just discovered on her chin. “We’re gonna have to rearrange everything so we can fit another article in for you.”
“Oh, we don’t want to do that,” Joe says, brightening. “Sara, why don’t you come with me and Oliver to the festival? We could use the extra help.”
I sit up a little straighter, my eyes meeting his. “Okay, sounds great.”
Two overlapping voices shout, “No!”
Rose and Oliver look like we’ve proposed changing our uniform color to highlighter yellow. Extreme displeasure is apparent on their faces.
“Why not?” I push back, summoning courage to stand up for myself. “I mean, I’d have to get my dad’s permission to go to the festival, but I’d love to write about it.”
“Of course. We’ll figure it out. Don’t worry,” Joe says encouragingly.
Oliver drops his face into his hands, the motion sending his glasses up his forehead and into his thick hair. Wow, say you don’t want to be around me withoutsayingit, Subwayboy.
I choose to ignore this overreaction. “You think so? I mean, it’ll depend on my grades, but—”
“Wait, wait. Is there really a need for this?”
Rose is miffed now, because we’re not following her leadership. And that’s the thing she enjoys most. Being in charge. Bossing people around.
“Lulu, weren’t you, uh. Weren’t you saying you needed more people for your”—Rose tries to think of the word—“spells section?”
Lulu folds one hand over the other, completely unnerved by Rose’s desire to get her way. “Never.”
“Actually, Rose, I think the festival may be our best option,” Mari jumps in. “It’s going to be big this year, so it’s better to have more reporters on the ground. That way we get more coverage.”
It’s clear Rose isn’t happy about this. As she frowns, a satisfactory thrill shoots through me. Because, wow—I actually stood up for myself in front of her. I’ve never done that before today.
Also? Ha! See? I’m needed at the festival. Rose can’t stop me from contributing to this club.
“Fine. If we need more people, I guess I’ll have to join too.” Rose points her pen at Lulu. “Looks like you’re gonna have to take care of those spells by yourself.”
“Always,” Lulu agrees ominously.
“It’s settled, then.” Rose places her hands on her hips, as though this superhero stance allows her to regain her power. “It’ll be me, Joe, Oliver, and Sara at the festival. Everyone okay with that?”
Oliver hangs his head, rubbing at his temples like this idea is giving him a massive headache. Joe, on the other hand, gives two enthusiastic thumbs-up. I go on pretending like Oliver does not exist in my world, and it’s a much happier place because of this.
“Sounds excellent,” Joe insists, green eyes gleaming as he smiles at me.
Tha-thump, tha-thumpgoes my heart.Eeee, I have plans with Joe! Well, and his brother. And Rose. But still! Joe is in the mix, and that’s not nothing—especially if I’m going to get to know him better. This is my big opportunity. It’s everything I could want, so Ihaveto make sure I don’t blow it.
Rose only smirks. “Can’t wait.”
TWENTY-FIVE
