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The girl who turned to me had her hair in braids, and she was wearing black leggings and a pink sweater that hugged her whole frame. Two more girls joined her, both in similar clothing except instead of a pink sweater, one wore a vintage-looking green T-shirt with white letters on the front. It was tied in a knot over her stomach, and her hair was sleek, swept back so it almost looked like something from The Matrix.
“Hi. I’m Kira.” The first girl gave a wave and a friendly smile. “I know who you are. We’re friends with your cousins.” She indicated the other two. “This is Ciara and Leanne.”
Both waved. I had no idea who was who.
Kira focused on Gem. “And you’re Theresa’s cousin.”
Gem started to answer.
Kira cut her off, her eyes growing more chilly. “I wasn’t asking. I know who you are. We’re not friends with Theresa, so is this going to be a problem?”
Gem’s mouth snapped shut, and she wavered back on her feet.
I frowned, stepping forward. “I don’t know the history—”
Kira swung my way. “You’re right. You don’t, and no offense, but I don’t want to start by being enemies with you. The history you need to know is that her cousin and us don’t get along, at all.” She looked back to Gem, thawing a little. “I have no problem with you helping, as long as it’s genuine. If you’re here to start a problem, then we can’t have you helping us.”
A door shut behind us, and I glanced back to see Scout standing there. His hard stare landed on me before he went to the vending machines.
Okay. I couldn’t do anything about that situation, so I focused back on Kira. Before Gem could say anything, I got in there. “Listen.”
Her face locked down.
I didn’t care. “She dragged me in here and got our names written down before I could even say yes to this. I’ve met her cousin once, and it was super brief, so you’re right. I don’t know the history, but I don’t need to because I know Gem. She obviously wants to be here. I’ve done this at my old school and getting good volunteers is hard. My advice is, don’t be stupid and scare away two new volunteers. If you knew Gem, you’d never be saying any of that shit.”
There you go. I waded in, not sticking to being under the radar which was my first plan of action. I sighed because I couldn’t do anything about it now. I knew who Kira and her friends were. They were the popular girls. I knew who I was—the Maroney triplets’ cousin, but I was also a loyal friend. And Gem was my friend.
I’d be loyal to her no matter what bridge I had to burn down for that to happen.
Which, again, was so stupid of me, but here I was, being stupid.
Kira drew in a sharp breath, and her chest puffed out, and I was ready for a blast from her.
“They’re cool, Huerl.”
Kira and her friends both snapped around to where Scout was standing, a water in his hand.
Her entire demeanor changed after that. “If you vouch for them, then . . .” She looked back, reassessing me. “Right now, we need help going to stores and seeing what they’d be willing to donate. You can go with Ciara, if you’re up for that?”
The other girl wearing a pink sweater stepped forward.
“What about me?” Gem asked.
The green T-shirt girl said, “You can help me with some lists we need to do.”
“Awesome,” Gem whispered, her eyes big and shining at me.
Gem wanted to do this, and I got it then. I got why, too, because she wanted to be popular. Though, no disrespect to her because so many wanted the same thing. But a part of me crumbled inside because I didn’t want that.
I wanted the opposite.
Kira moved in closer, dropping her voice. “I’m not trying to start anything. I really meant that. Just. Gem’s cousin and I have been fighting for so long, you know? But also, that’s super cool that Scout waded in for you. He doesn’t do that, ever.”
She seemed more friendly, so I nodded. “Yeah. That’s cool, but Gem is a sweetheart.”
“I know.” She also seemed genuine. “Hey, uh. Instead of going with Ciara, you can go with me? I need to run some errands, and there’s one store that loves your cousins. I think we could get a bigger donation if you’re with me.”
At this point, I was just going where I would cause the least amount of trouble, so I nodded.
She smiled widely at me. “So lit! Okay. Give me ten minutes, and let’s meet by the main office. I need to run to my locker, and if I come back in here, I’ll never be able to leave again.”
