“Nobody wanted to see them get ahead, but their persistence eventually paid off,” I said.
Mr. Diaz nodded at us and smiled. “It’s good to see you two working so well together.”
A couple people giggled, and Casey shot me a dirty look. I sank lower in my chair.
Mr. Diaz opened his mouth to speak, but the bell cut him off. “We’ll continue this tomorrow! Don’t forget to write up your movie reviews for this clip. They’re due tomorrow—first thing.”
Justin waited for me as I shoved a binder into my backpack. Casey hovered around her desk, watching us.
“It was good to hear your voice today, Drea.” Mr. Diaz said. “I can tell from your reviews that you understand a lot more than you think you do.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled, my cheeks growing hot.
“We’ve got the camera this weekend,” Justin said.
I flung my backpack over one shoulder. “Crap, I promised my grandma I’d help her with a garage sale.”
He grinned. “Maybe there will be some fun customers to film.”
“Hey, Justin,” Casey said as we passed her, “Kari wants to talk to you. She’s waiting out front.”
Justin’s jaw tensed. “Okay.”
The two of them walked ahead of me toward the school parking lot. Naomi grabbed my shoulders from behind, pulling me back a couple paces. My lunch box slipped out of my grasp and crashed onto the floor. The contents—my iPod, loose change, crayons, lip gloss, and two maxi pads—scattered across the green tile.
“Can you not do that?” I knelt down and grabbed my iPod.
“God, cranky much?” She got on her knees and picked up the quarters.
A couple guys walked by, laughing. “Are those the extra-absorbent kind?” One of them kicked a pad over to me.
I snatched it and shoved it inside the box. Apparently the fiasco had caught Justin’s attention because he handed the other pad to me and picked up some of my crayons. I really wanted a blanket to hide under.
“Why don’t you use tampons?” Naomi asked.
“I’ll wait for you guys outside,” Justin said, getting up. He jogged after Casey.
“I really hate you right now, Naomi.” I slammed my lunch box shut. “Why do you have to embarrass me in front of him?”
“Uh, Drea. Most guys our age know we get periods. It’s not like a big secret or anything.”
“My mom says guys get weirded out when you talk about it.”
“I know.” She gave me a big smile. “That’s why it’s fun. I like to watch them squirm.”
I shook my head and headed toward the double set of doors. “Why? That’s a pointless goal.”
She walked ahead of me and shoved the door open. “Don’t you ever get tired of being such a priss?”
“Whatever that means.” I hadn’t told Naomi the truth yet. Her words kept spinning in my head.
Justin leaned against the trunk of his car, eyeing the ground. Kari did most of the talking, using animated hand gestures that resembled sign language. Casey paced behind them with a cell phone glued to her ear.
“Drama-queen alert.” Naomi tugged me along. “Let’s go spy.”
I followed her. At least we wouldn’t be in Kari’s line of vision that way. We slouched over and crept behind a pickup truck next to Justin’s BMW.
“You didn’t strike me as a coward,” Kari said.
“I didn’t know what to say—it was awkward.”
“Only because you made it that way.”
Naomi let out a snort and covered her laugh.
I elbowed her in the side.
Justin shoved his hands into his pockets. “I told you, Kari. It’s not you.”
“Are you gay?”
“I just don’t want to hook up with anyone right now.”
“Is that why you and Drea are attached at the hip?”
“We’re friends.”
“Right. You should hear the way she salivates over you in the locker room. Good luck with that.” She shook her head and walked off with Casey.
I really wanted that blanket.
Naomi jumped up. “For the record, we merely admire you—our salivary glands aren’t involved.”
I followed her, keeping my eyes on Justin’s tires. Looking at him would be too intense. Too embarrassing.
“Good to know,” he answered. “We recording?”
