"Could you repeat the question?" I say, forcing out a smile.
"The question regarding women's roles during the Civil War. It's a discussion question from today's reading. You read the material, didn't you?"
"Yes," I hurry to say, hoping to wipe that disappointed look off her face. It's only been two days and she's already decided I'm the student she can depend on to participate in class. And here I am, failing. This isn't me. I need to focus. "As for a woman's role, we need to remember the social norms of the time." I continue the best I can, trying to remember what I read last night in the book.
"Excellent analysis," the teacher says when I'm done. Her comment causes death stares to shoot my way from the people around me. At my old school, I would've been a rock star for the answer I just gave but here people see me as a suck-up. Teacher's pet.
They hate me. In less than an hour, I've managed to make enemies in class, tell my one and only friend to get lost, and embarrass myself in front of Dean, giving him even more ammunition to use against me. I hate that guy. And I hate this school. I want my old life back.
At the end of the day, I race to find Eve. I go to her locker but she's not there. I check outside but don't see her. As I'm heading back to the school, I see Evan coming out.
"Evan." I run up to him. "Have you seen your sister?"
"She's inside. What the hell happened with you two? She's been talking shit about you all afternoon."
I sigh. "I'm not surprised. I deserve it. You know where she went?"
"Outside the office, checking the job board."
"Okay, thanks." I turn to leave but he grabs me, turning me back around.
"Listen," he says, a serious look on his face. "I know my sister's a pain in the ass sometimes and she comes off as being kind of a bitch, but she's not." He pauses. "Okay, sometimes she's a bitch but even when she is, she won't turn on you. She's someone who's always got your back. She tells you shit like it is because she cares. She's got the biggest heart of anyone I know and if she chooses you as a friend, you should be fucking grateful because I guarantee she'll be the best friend you ever had." He looks around at the people going past us, then focuses back on me. "You tell Eve I told you any of that and I'm gonna have to hurt you."
I nod. "Okay."
He laughs. "I'm kidding." He looks around again before his eyes land back on mine. "But seriously, this is between you and me. I can't have her thinking I like her. She's my sister. It wouldn't be right."
I smile. "I promise I won't tell her."
"Oh, and when you talk to her, don't be all over the top with your apology. She hates that shit. Be cool."
"Cool. Got it."
He opens the door for me and I go inside, down the hall to the office. Eve is staring up at a bulletin board that's covered in job postings.
I stand beside her. "See anything good?"
She doesn't look at me, her eyes glued to the board.
"Any jobs for people who are really stupid and tell someone to go away when that someone was just trying to be a friend?"
She continues to stare at the board for several long seconds, then points to a yellow sheet of paper that's between us on the board. "That one."
I read the job posting. "Part Time Dog Waste Collector." I smile. "Picking up dog poop?"
"Pays twelve bucks an hour. Seems like the perfect job for whoever it is you're talking about."
"She'd take it if the person who was trying to be her friend would forgive her."
She looks at me. "You'd really pick up dog poop?"
I crinkle my nose. "Do I have to?"
"If you want us to be friends."
I let out sigh. "Okay, fine, I'll do it."
She bursts out laughing. "I'm kidding! You really think I'd make you do that?"
