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I poke at my food with my fork.
“What are you ea—” She grimaces a little when she looks over. “I figured you’d get the pizza.”
I click my tongue and nod. “Yeah, I wonder why on Earth I’m eating this? It’s not like the answer is obvious.”
Her mouth twists in thought as she glances back and forth between her food and mine. Then, she shoves her lunch toward me. “Eat this instead.”
I push it back. “No.”
She reaches for mine. “I’ll eat this. It can’t be that bad.”
“You eat yours, and I’ll eat mine.” I grip the tray, keeping it in front of me. My breaths are becoming ragged because the more I see her, the more I see my brother in my mind. And that’s the last thing I want to think about.
She sighs. “Come on, Becca. Just let me do this for you. I’m trying to be nice.”
My fist hits the table. “If you want to be nice, then get lost!”
Her jaw drops, and within seconds, tears prick at the corner of her eyes.
I’m still holding the tray with so much pressure that, when she lets go, the tray flies toward me. The sloppy joe and green bean mush collide with my chest and slide down to my pants with a wet thud.
I shriek, jumping up.
My throat goes dry as the entire cafeteria quiets. Everyone is looking at me, and I forget how to breathe.
Heat rises on my neck as pins and needles shoot up my hands.
Sadie is covering her mouth, and her eyes are wide with horror.
Whispers echo around me.
I don’t know what to do, so I do what I do best.
I run.
I bite the inside of my cheek, trying not to cry. I won’t do that in front of everyone.
* * *
I frantically splashmy sweatshirt with water, trying to get the grease from the sloppy joe out, despite knowing it’s a lost cause without dish soap. The only thing I’m accomplishing is making the mess more noticeable now that I’m soaked.
I wince at myself in the mirror. So much for wearing mascara. Now, I have raccoon eyes from rubbing the tears away. Grabbing a paper towel, I try to scrub it off too. I manage to get most of it, but not without replacing the black for red, irritated skin.
There’s a knock on the bathroom door.
It’s Sadie. I know it is. But I don’t want to talk to her.
“Go away!” I yell.
There’s another knock. “Are you okay?”
I pause at the voice.
It’s Caleb.
Staggering back from the mirror, I stare at the door. Why is he here, of all people?
I saunter toward the door, “What do you think?”
