Page 117 of With a Little Luck

“The two of you aren’t together,” says Katie, gesturing between us with her fork. “He started sitting here because he got you tickets to that concert, but now? You’re not even going to prom together. You’re going with that … hobbit, or whatever.”

“Their name is Noah,” Maya says through her teeth, “and they play a halfling in our game.”

Katie snorts. “Right. Yourgame. My point is, it’s over, Jude.” Her expression turns dramatically pitying. “Maya’s not into you. She’s willing to go out with one of your nerd friends, butyoustill weren’t good298enough. It is time to move on before we all feel even more sorry for you than we already do.”

“Seriously, Katie?” says Maya. “Jude is my friend! Why do you have to be this way?”

“He is not your friend,” says Katie, fixing an intense look on Maya, likeshe’sthe one being ridiculous here. “He’s more like your stalker. He’s been obsessed for years, and everyone knows it, and honestly, I think it’s cruel the way you’re leading him on.”

“She isn’t—” I start, but Katie keeps going.

“Have you even seen the drawings he makes of you?”

My chest tightens. “What?”

Katie gives me a smug look. “I sit behind you in Spanish class. I’ve seen that comic. The wizard drooling over the statue that looks so much like our girl here.” She laughs harshly. “It issocreepy.”

“You mean … this comic?” says a voice behind me. Maya and I spin around on the bench. I hadn’t even known Tobey was behind me, hadn’t felt him unzipping my backpack—and now he has my notebook in hand as he dances out of reach.

“Hey!” I shout, launching to my feet, knocking my tray of salad onto the floor in my hurry to get up. Lettuce and croutons go everywhere, but I’m focused only on Tobey as he sprints to the other side of the table. He’s flipping through pages. My pages. My drawings.

People are starting to stare.

But what am I supposed to do? Plead with him to give it back? Jump over this table and tackle him?

“Hand it back, Tobey,” says Maya, standing now, too. “What are you, four years old?”

He ignores her, eyes bugging wide. “Whoa, you drew this? You’re really good. It looks just like her!” He turns the pages so everyone can see the pictures of the statue. Of Maya, graceful and elegant and … Maybe Katie is right. Maybe it is creepy.

My stomach twists, and for some reason, I’m tempted to tell them299to keep reading. To get to the part with Grit Stonesplitter, the tiefling fighter. That’s the real Maya, the one no one here knows except me.

But he flips right past it, while Janine stands up to look over his shoulder. “Oh my gosh!” she squeals. “Is that Kyle, from the track team? He’sadorable.”

I grimace, shaking my head, unable to speak. Please don’t pull my friends into this …

And then—

“No way!” shouts Janine. “That’s EZ! Ah, that is hysterical! And who’s that?”

“Ooh la la. Hello, hottie with a guitar,” says Tobey.

Shit, shit, shit—

“Hey, let me see,” says Raul, standing and reaching for the notebook.

“Yeah, check it out,” says Tobey, handing it to him. “We’ve got some first-class drama in these pages. Jude, who knew?”

But Raul doesn’t look at the comic. As soon as it’s in his hand, he slams it shut.

“Hey!” says Tobey, but Raul holds the notebook out of reach.

“Stop being a dick.” Raul leans over the table, holding the notebook toward me, but my heart is in my throat, and I know my face is the color of a shirt of someone who’s about to die onStar Trek, and I can’t move, not even to take it.

Maya grabs the notebook instead, then all but shoves it into my hands. “Thanks, Raul,” she says.

I give a terse nod, not trusting myself to speak. Then, without looking at anyone, I turn, sling my backpack over one shoulder, and walk away.

“Jude?” Maya calls, but I don’t look back.

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