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“Psst,” someone whispered.
I ignored it and kept writing Alyssa Jonas.
“Psst,” they said, more urgently. “Hey. Alyssa.”
I glanced over. Jack Franco was flipping me off, holding open his science textbook to keep the substitute teacher from seeing. He grinned at my reaction, showing a mouth full of braces.
I rolled my eyes and went back to doodling. He had been a thorn in my side since we moved here last year. Somehow, I always got stuck in the same class as him, even though there were four different teachers for our grade.
Just my luck, I thought.
The bell out in the hall rang, indicating it was time to change periods. “Okay, everyone! Time for recess. Line up by the door, alphabetical order.”
I tucked my notebook under my arm and got in line with all the other students. Brandi was in another class, and I couldn’t wait to see her at recess. I didn’t have many other friends in this school.
I felt a finger poke me in the back. “Stop it.”
“Stop what?” Jack asked behind me. He poked me again.
“I said stop!” I said louder.
“Use our indoor voices while we’re still in class,” the substitute scolded.
“He’s poking me!”
“She’s making it up to get me in trouble,” Jack said innocently.
I turned around and glared at him. He gave me another metallic grin. He would have been cute if he wasn’t such a jerk.
When everyone was in line and counted, the teacher led us into the hall. On the way to recess, we passed by the gymnasium. A table was set up selling single roses, chocolates, and cards for Valentine’s Day. I ignored it; I wasn’t interested in any of the boys here. Not when I had all three Jonas Brothers waiting for me when I turned eighteen in six short years.
Other classes were already playing outside when the teacher turned us loose. I immediately spotted Brandi sitting cross-legged in the grass.
“Did he ask you?” I said when I joined her. “Huh? Did he?”
“No,” Brandi said. Her eyes were red; she looked like she’d been crying. “He asked Marta Lopez to be his valentine instead.”
She buried her head in her arms and shook with sobs. I rubbed her back. “Jason is an idiot. You can do better than him.”
“No I can’t!” she wailed.
“He only asked her because she has boobs.”
“Duh!”
“But that’s all she has,” I said soothingly. “She has no personality, and she’s as dumb as a bag of soccer balls. You’re smart, and funny.”
“I don’t want to be smart or funny! I want boobs!”
“Will a bag of Skittles from the vending machine make you feel any better?”
“I can’t buy that,” she said. “Mom took my dog walking money again. She said she would pay me back, but she never does.”
I felt my jaw tighten. That was the third time this month that had happened.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a crumpled dollar bill. “Here. I saved this for you.”
Brandi wiped her eyes and stared at it. “I don’t want to take your money. You earned that.”
