Page 49 of I Wish You All the Best

She raises an eyebrow. “Thomas?”

“Mr. Waller. He’s my brother-in-law. And my ride home.” I make sure to pick my words carefully. “What are you doing?”

“I’ve got to hang these posters around campus.” We both stand up slowly, but she still has the panicked look. “Listen, I hate to ask you, but can you help me? Stephanie’s going to chew my ass if they aren’t up by tomorrow morning.”

“Yeah, sure. What do I need to do?” I guess anything’s better than just walking around campus.

“Here.” Meleika hands me this huge roll of tape. “I hold, you tape.” She pins one of the flyers against the wall in front of us. I quickly rip the four pieces and tape down each corner. “You’re fast, good.”

“Trained for seven years to be an expert tape ripper. Glad the classes paid off.”

That makes her laugh, and we move farther down the hall, making sure we don’t hang the same style of poster as the last one.

“So, are you going to the dance?” Meleika asks, pinning up another poster.

“Wasn’t planning on it.”

“What? Why not?”

“Dances aren’t really my thing.” I start ripping more pieces of tape, letting them hang ready on the ends of my fingers.

“There’s a game too.”

“Sports and dances aren’t really my thing.”

Meleika chuckles, brushing her hair out of her face. Over the weekend, she got rid of the braids and came back to school with huge, long curls. “I don’t really blame you, honestly. I wouldn’t go unless I had to.”

“You have to?”

“Everyone from student council has to show up to all our events, or else we don’t get the credit hours.”

“That sucks.”

“You’re telling me! I’m missing my shows to watch some beefcakes knock around balls with a big stick?” Then she stops. “I suppose the baseball butts aren’t so bad though.”

I keep my mouth shut, but I definitely wouldn’t argue with her.

“Meleika?” An all-too-familiar voice echoes down the hallway. Nathan, of course. “And Ben!” He smiles when he sees me. “What are you doing here?”

“He’s busy.” Meleika gets another poster ready.

“Thomas had to stay after, for some meeting,” I say.

“Oh.” Nathan’s smile drops. “So why are you helping Mel?” he asks.

“’Cause he’s a decent human being who helps when asked, unlike you.” Meleika takes a piece of tape from my fingers and tapes a flyer to Nathan’s forehead.

“I had to help paint set pieces!” Nathan protests, ripping the paper off his face. Apparently, he underestimated the strength of the tape because next thing we know, he’s doubled over hissing and rubbing that spot on his forehead. “You try telling Stephanie no!” he says through gritted teeth.

“Whatever.” Meleika crosses her arms. “What are you doing here anyway? You’re painting, remember?”

“Mr. Madison said you had the spare key to the art room. Mrs. Liu was supposed to get us more paint, but I think it’s locked in her room.”

Meleika stares at him. “I don’t have a key.”

“You’re joking.”

She shakes her head. “Nope.”