“Good.” She takes my hand and pulls me up. “Because I swear Addie would have barbecued me if I didn’t team up with you.”
She leads me to the empty desk across from her and we push our desks together.
“Why would Addie barbecue you if we didn’t team up?” I ask as Sophie takes out her book.
“Well, she suspected from the start that you and I liked each other and she claimed we would get together.”
“She did? Wow.”
“She just wanted me to find a good guy and be happy. I guess she knows me more than I think.”
I turn to her friends and find the three of them huddled together, their eyes on Sophie and me and humongous smiles on their faces. They quickly turn away, focusing on their assignment.
“Ugh, don’t mind them,” Sophie says. “They’re just happy for me. Especially because I insisted I didn’t need real-life romance.”
“They’re good friends,” I tell her. “You’re lucky to have them.”
“Thanks.”
As we work on the assignment, I purposely move over so my shoulder brushes hers. Sophie glances at me and smiles, gently pushing her shoulder into mine. I peek at the teacher to make sure she’s preoccupied. The last thing I want is for Sophie to get in trouble. When I see that Miss Pham is busy scribbling on assignments from another class, I move my foot over and gently rub it against Sophie’s.
She gasps with a giggle. “Are you playing footsie with me?”
“What? No. My foot isn’t even near yours.”
She narrows her eyes. “Liar.”
I lift my shoulders. “I’m serious.”
She pulls her eyes from me and we continue working on the assignment. I stretch my foot again and rub it against hers.
“See!” she hisses. “Youareplaying footsie with me.”
Not being able to hold a straight face anymore, I burst out laughing. That causes every single head in the room to shoot in our direction.
“Miss Reed and Mr. Harrington?” the teacher calls.
Sophie straightens up. “Yes, Miss Pham?”
“Are you two working on the project?”
“Of course. We’re having a lot of fun discussing the book. Damian didn’t realize there are certain passages in the book that are meant to be humorous. He just assumed the whole thing was serious. It’s cool to share another point of view with him, don’t you think?”
I stare at her, feeling my eyes grow so large they nearly roll off my face.
The teacher shifts in her seat. “Yes, it is. Please continue working on your assignment quietly.”
“I can’t believe you,” I whisper to her. “You’re really made of tough stuff. And you can think quickly on your feet.”
“Not really. I just know how to play Miss Pham.”
I shake my head with a smile. “You’re a little manipulative teacher’s pet,” I whisper.
“I’m not!” she insists.
I wink. “I told you I like the rebel side of you.”
“I’m not a rebel,” she hisses.
