“Are you okay?” Leah asks me, concern in her soft voice. “You seem distracted today.”
“I’m fine,” I lie, picking at my cuticles. “Just sluggish from the move.”
Meela pops my hand. “Stop that.”
“Sorry,” I grumble, thoroughly chastised.
Leah and Meela are cool peeps, but I’m not ready to tell themabout Sam or the circumstances that led me here. No one wants a backstabber for a friend.
“Oh, okay,” Leah chirps, closing her locker. “Only one more day until the weekend, then you can have some downtime.”
We start down the hallway, following the throng of bodies outside. I don’t recall today’s lessons. I couldn’t focus on anything buthim.
I have to speak to him again. Beg for his forgiveness. We were once inseparable, facing life’s harsh realities together. It’ll take a while, but I know we can rebuild our friendship.
“Downtime?” Meela retorts, rolling her eyes. “Jesus, what am I going to do with you? Have I taught you nothing? I can’t wait for the weekend so I can have some downtime,” she says in an overtly whiny tone, “said no teenager in the history of forever.”
Leah’s response is to shake her head and laugh. They’ve been best friends since the sixth grade. I gather she’s grown accustomed to Meela’s spicy attitude.
“Listen, babes, pay this little peach no mind. She’s still learning. Hang with me on Saturday, girly. I’m getting a new tattoo, then we can do lunch and a movie.”
Meela is dressed head to toe in lime green today. Complete with lime-green eyes and a matching wig. Does this girl color coordinate every day? Way too time-consuming for me.
“Can’t go,” I mumble, my gaze downcast in embarrassment. “I’m strapped for cash.”
I haven’t mentioned my job interview to anyone. Don’t want to jinx it. Even if I get the cleaning gig, splurging is completely out of the question. I’ll need to penny-pinch every single cent. Money will only be spent on the necessities; nothing more.
“I got you, babe,” Meela says, winking at me.
“Oh no, I can’t ask you to—”
“I insist,” she replies, her tone brooking no argument. “And you didn’t ask, I offered.”
“I’m not comfortable—”
“Just let it go,” Leah interjects. “Meela never takes no for an answer. Trust me on this, you’re wasting your breath.”
“Well, if you insist,” I concede.
She gives a decisive nod. “I very much insist.”
When we reach the bottom of the stairs, an arm slips over my shoulders. I grimace, seeing the annoying boy from my science class. I had the displeasure of meeting him yesterday.
I dig an elbow into his side and shove him away. “What do you want, Sully?”
“Don’t be like that, doll face,” he croons. “Just making sure we’re still on for eight tonight.”
Double ew, he’s so slimy. He asked me out once already, and I said thanks, but no thanks. Why he thinks my answer would change in less than twenty-four hours is beyond me.
“It’s Zilphia, and for the second time, my answer is no!”
“Playing hard to get, huh?” he waggles his eyebrows. “Me likey.”
Barf.
“Newsflash, she’s not playing hard to get,” Meela deadpans, rolling her eyes. “Get a clue.”
Sully slips his arm over my shoulders again. “Come on, babe. I’m a really nice guy once you get to know me.”
