Page 15 of New Year

Oliver nods to the book I got out to start my homework.

“How’s our Tessy doing?”

“I finished it already,” I say. I don’t tell him that I always read it with his voice in my head now. Maybe I’m not a total lost cause.

“Great job,” he says. “I’ve got to go meet the coach. Keep an eye on my sister, yeah?”

He hops down from the bleachers and lopes off, leaving me completely confused. At least now I know why Isabel looks so familiar. She’s the girl from the beach the first day, who didn’tsay a word to us but came up holding hands with Colin. Which seems pretty weird now that I know they’re related, but maybe it’s a cultural thing.

“Are you on one of the spirit squads?” she asks, scooting over next to me. Unlike the twins, her accent is barely discernible, though she’s just as gorgeous.

I snort out a laugh that makes me feel even uglier next to this girl who looks like a porcelain doll, with round pink lips and big doe eyes framed by thick, spidery lashes. “No.”

“Are you dating a basketball player?”

“No.”

“Do you have a brother on the team or something?”

“No.”

“So… Why are you here?”

I shrug. “I’m friends with the cheerleaders and some of the guys.”

“So you hang out with the jocks, but you’re not a jock, and you’re not dating a jock. How did that happen?”

I shift uncomfortably on the seat, not really sure how to answer that. I already feel like an outcast without anyone pointing it out, and most people are too polite to question my status. Finally I go for the simplest explanation. “I had a class with Chase, and he introduced me to his girlfriend, and we became friends.”

“Chase London?” she asks, her pale eyes opening wide. I wonder if I looked that awestruck when I first came into the group.

“Yeah,” I say, slightly embarrassed by her open admiration.

“You’re so lucky,” she says on a sigh.

I know I’m lucky. I’ve done nothing to earn or deserve popularity, and yet as she pointed out, I’ve somehow ended up in the popular crowd. I can’t help but watch her from the corner ofmy eye as she cheers when the team comes out, wondering if I’ve just met my replacement.

She’s ten times prettier than me, she’s new, she’s exciting, and her brothers are about to be on the team, which gives them insta-popularity. At least I won’t have to wonder for long, since Lindsey’s coming back tomorrow.

five

Now Playing:

“Swallow My Pride”—Green River

Since I’m grounded from my phone, Mom says I’m only allowed to use my laptop for school, but what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. I’m sitting on my couch working on my book report that evening when the little black chat box forOnlyWordspops up in the corner of my screen.

ChasesDarling: OMG it’s been 4ever! What r u wearing 2 school this week? Elaine said u might need some help.

Of course she did.

I’m too giddy about being contacted by the queen to care what her backstabbing lady-in-waiting said about my outfit today, though.

BlueSky: yes plz

ChasesDarling: Send me pics of what u have 4 the rest of the week.

BlueSky: ughhh cant mom stole phone again

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