“You know, Jihad is an artist.” Alexis beams at me. “You guys saw how she transformed my room’s walls.”
“I remember.” Hayley plays with her straw. Her perfect eyebrows are raised, impressed. “You should consider making a career from that.”
I try not to look surprised. “Really?”
She nods. “People spend money on anything. I mean, you’re not Klimt, but you’re not bad.”
I glance at Alexis, confused. “Thank you?”
“You’re welcome,” Hayley replies.
Alexis taps her fingers on the table. “She’s been drawing ever since I knew her. She has this sketchbook from when she was nine. Tell them about the sketchbook, Ji!”
I fidget with my fingers, and Alexis gives me an encouraging look. I haven’t been the center of a conversation for so long, it feels like I’m learning how to walk again.
“Yeah, I got it for my birthday. It was kind of expensive, so I decided to only draw important things. Or whatever I thought was important at the time. I’ve been doing it ever since. It’s nearly finished, and I want to send it as part of my college application so they can see how I’ve grown as an artist. It’s a whole mess, but it’s got character, which I hope works in my favor.”
Jenny nods. “That sounds pretty cool.”
A beat of silence follows. I fiddle with my spoon.
“Anyway.”Nicole drags the word and then stares me pointedly. “We’ve stalled long enough. What happened with Jamie?”
The other three lean forward in their seats, eyes wide with hunger for my answer.
I squirm in my seat a bit. “I talked to him.”
“And?” Jenny says. “Speak faster!”
I clear my throat and tuck my hands under my thighs, sitting on them. “He said he’d like to talk to you about it in person. That it’s between you two.”
Another beat of silence with the words sinking in. Then they erupt in gasps and giggles.
“Oh my God,he likes you!” Hayley whisper-screams.
Nicole’s shoulders get shoved, but she has a giddy grin on her face, cheeks becoming flushed. “I can’t believe it!”
“I can!” Alexis squeals.
“Wait,wait!” Nicole says loudly, putting up her hands. She turns her gaze toward me, and I imagine her in a bloodred cape with ice-frozen jewels on her neck. “Did he say he likes me?”
“He—he didn’t mention anything,” I lie in a crystal clear voice. “He just said he’d like to talk to you.”
She bites her lower lip. “All right, this doesn’t mean he likes me. We celebrated too early.”
“He’d be crazy not to like you,” Jenny exclaims.
“Exactly,” Hayley adds. “Besides, if he didn’t like you, then he wouldn’t want to talk directly to you. Jihad was right there, and he’d have told her to tell you so it saves him the awkwardness. I mean, it’s what I would have done.”
“That’s true.” Alexis nods. “I didn’t want to tell Adrian I liked Mason. But if Ididn’tlike him, then it would have been easier to let Adrian carry the news back.”
At the mention of Adrian, my stomach squeezes a fraction before letting go.
Nicole looks more placated. “Right.” She taps the table with her palms. “This means Monday is going to be very critical. We need to know how I’ll do my hairandwhich outfit to take to school with me because we’re obviously going out after, and I’m not wearing the uniform.”
They launch into a whole conversation on different hairstyles and whether it should be an updo or casual. Blow-dried or air-dried. Which clips to use. Whether she should wear a dress or a skirt. The sundress with the peonies along the hem or the miniskirt that does great justice to her legs.
I’m forgotten, no one even glancing at me, and my muscles relax. I’m no longer under the microscope.
