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The class sat frozen, Becca included.
“Christopher,” said Mr. Beamis. “Take a visit to the office.”
And though she was staring at him, Chris didn’t look at her. He just shoved his books into his bag, slung it over his shoulder, and strode out of the classroom.
“So let me get this straight,” said Quinn, spinning her water bottle in her hands. The rain seemed to be holding off, so they had the lunch table to themselves again. “He threw the note at Tommy and then told him to f**k off? Or do I have it backwards?”
“I’m detecting some sarcasm.”
“And then got himself sent to the principal’s office because he was ready to defend your honor?”
“Quinn.”
Her friend waved a hand. “No, I think you might be on to something. This is clearly an elaborate plot to screw with you. He asks you out, he defends you from that meathead—what next?” Quinn’s eyes flashed wide in mock surprise. “Crap, Bex, do you think he’ll do something truly horrible like buy you flowers?”
Becca gave her a look. “So you think I should apologize.”
“No. I think you should give him a shot.” Quinn rolled her eyes and dropped her voice. “I think you should give someone a shot.”
Becca chewed on her lip and peeled at the label of her water bottle.
A shadow fell across the table and a lunch tray slapped down next to Quinn.
Becca jerked her head up, surprised by the quick flutter in her chest.
But it wasn’t Chris—it was New Kid.
She stared up at him. It took her brain a second to get it together.
“Hey,” he said, dropping onto the bench beside Quinn. “Why do you sit all the way back here?”
Quinn looked at him for a moment, then back at Becca. Her expression was some combination of bemused and incredulous. “Did you save his life, too?”
New Kid picked up his fork and looked over. “Whose life did you save?”
Becca opened her mouth, then closed it. Her brain was refusing to engage. She couldn’t figure out how to play this without knowing what his motives were. The quick and easy intimacy of discussing death in the aisle of Pets Plus didn’t exist here—especially since she’d seen him sit head-to-head with Monica for fifty minutes.
“Quinn’s just being silly.” She kept her voice disinterested. “You ... ah, you’re eating with us?”
His whole tray was full of healthy food—grilled chicken, steamed vegetables, brown rice. No wonder he’d gotten through the line so quickly. He went for the stuff most kids wouldn’t touch.
He peeled the lid off something that looked like sliced fruit. “That all right?”
Quinn put an elbow on the table and gave him a level look. “She wants to know why.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I’m hungry and I don’t know anyone else?”
Becca wasn’t going to buy any poor-little-new-kid crap now. “You seemed to be getting to know Monica Lawrence pretty well.”
He met her gaze head on, a spark of boldness in his green eyes. “Oh,” he said, his voice flat. “You mean instead of sitting here, I could hear all about Monica’s badass cheer routine and where she gets her highlights done and how some girl named Claire, who’s a total whore by the way—”
“Okay, okay.” Becca couldn’t help the smile.
“No, wait. I’m just getting going.” He sliced into his chicken.
“Claire is a total whore,” said Quinn. “She and Monica sit behind me in Trig.”
Becca watched New Kid work the cutlery. “Bet you wish you’d given up your seat now, huh?”
