Alice stops by my desk. “We haven’t scared you away yet, Kayla’s sister?”
I’m too preoccupied with my spiraling thoughts to musterany kind of response, but I hope my face tells her I’m not amused. She laughs and walks away. I finally slide my bag onto my shoulder when Ms. Taylor calls me over.
“Jasmine, can you see me before you head out?”
Deanna is at Ms. Taylor’s desk. I look straight at Ms. Taylor.
“I know the partner thing is stressful when you’re new,” she says, “so Deanna has volunteered to pair with you for the project.” She smiles back and forth between me and Deanna.
“Oh, okay, thanks,” I say nervously. Still looking straight at Ms. Taylor, I clear my throat. “I really appreciate it.” I don’t want to seem ungrateful.
Ms. Taylor nods her head, pleased, and hands us both journals. “I look forward to learning more about each of you. Remember, honesty makes a story good!” She waves us off with another smile.
I’m not sure how Deanna responds because I refuse to look at her.
As we walk out of the classroom, I think about telling Deanna she doesn’t have to do this. I don’t want Kayla to think I’m stepping on her toes.
Deanna nudges me with her hip. “Don’t look so excited about being my partner,” she teases. I feel my lips quirk up. “Ahh, she smiles.”
I shake my head. “On occasion,” I mutter. “Just a little nervous about the project.”
Deanna doesn’t seem as intimidating this close up, even though she’s slightly taller than I am. The perfect posture and innate confidence aren’t what I’m most impressed by.How is she also so sweet?
“Oh, don’t worry, the hard part is done,” she says. “New kids never get great partners.”
“Thanks,” I say, “but you don’t have to.”
“I want to,” she says matter-of-factly. “Just don’t make me regret it; I only get A’s.”
We both laugh.
“Anyway, two things,” she says, following me. “First, sorry about Alice. She’s not always like that.”
Deanna leans up against the lockers as I try to open mine. The combination doesn’t work. I close my eyes and pretend she’s not standing so near—pretend I can’t smell the lemon candy on her breath—and try again.
“You’ll end up loving her, everyone does,” she continues.
The locker opens.
“I’ll live if I don’t,” I say, switching out my notebooks.
Deanna laughs.
“That was rude, sorry.” I wish I could disappear into my locker.
“Remind me to stay on your good side! You’re tough!”
I consider telling her I’m not, but decide against it. I close my locker and say nothing. She hands me a small packet with a big red A+ at the top next to her name.Deanna Lowe.
“What’s this?”
“This is the second thing,” she says. “You seem really serious about the notes for the quizzes, so I figured this could help you study. It’s from the last book we read, but Ms. Taylor uses the same kind of questions every time, and…”
I flip through the three pages and notice how perfect her handwriting is. “You only get A’s. I remember.”
“You’re memorizing things about me already? That’s cute,” she jokes. “Okay,anyway—give me your phone.”
I pull it out and hand it to her.
