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“I don’t understand you, Nicole. Sometimes you’re nice and it seems like we’re getting along, but then other times you snap at me and insult me.”
Nicole sniffed. “I don’t owe you any explanations.”
Raina looked away. What had she done to make Nicole hate her? She’d tried to befriend the other girl when Nicole returned to Trinity, but Nicole had rebuffed all her advances. Raina had kept trying, even after the whole debacle at Theo’s house, even after Nicole had essentially ruined one of her close friendships. And now, after they’d spent the past few weeks reading throughRomeo and Juliettogether, Raina had truly thought they’d been on better terms.
“Yay, we’re here,” Nicole mumbled when the bus rolled into the mall parking lot a few minutes later.
Studiously avoiding Nicole’s gaze, Raina gathered her bag and stepped off the bus.
The mall was a ginormous brick structure with neon signs on the outside wall offering directions to various stores and outlets. The two girls crossed the street and hurried through the main entrance, between a Macys and a small jewelry store.
“Where to first?” Raina asked, trying her best to keep her voice polite. She glanced around for a map.
“I need a drink.”
Raina stared at Nicole in horror. Nicole was only seventeen. Was she really going to make Raina an accomplice to her underage drinking? Not to mention Nicole hadn’t even bothered bringing a purse…how was she going to purchase something without money?
Nicole rolled her eyes. “Relax, I meant coffee. I need caffeine if I’m going to be forced to deal with you.”
If this was what Raina would have to deal with all day, she was three seconds away from catching the bus back to Trinity. “Fine.”
Nicole quickly sped ahead, forcing Raina to practically run to catch up to her at the Starbucks stand. Nicole was already ordering by the time Raina reached the counter.
“I’ll have a caramel latte, grande. And don’t forget the whipped cream.”
“Name, please,” the barista said.
“Nicole.”
Nicole glanced at Raina. “Do you want anything?”
Raina bit her lip, staring at the menu uncertainly. “Um, I’ve never been to Starbucks before.”
“How have you never been to Starbucks before?”
Raina shrugged, stepping up to the counter. “Excuse me, do you have aTeudah?”
“A tu-ah-dah?” the barista mispronounced.
“Do you have kosher certification?” Raina corrected herself.
The barista nodded. “Yes.” She stood there, waiting for Raina to give her order.
“May I see it?” Raina prompted.
Sighing, the barista bent down and pulled out a dark blue binder. She flipped it open and ran a finger down the page, before shoving it at Raina. “Here.”
Raina peered down at the page. “Thank you. Um,” she turned back to Nicole, “what should I get?”
“Are you a coffee person?”
“No.”
“Any coffee at all?”
“No.”
“What flavor milkshakes do you like?”
