Page 46 of Didn't See That Coming

“Yeah, except he’s a guy, so I doubt he’d get in the same kind of trouble for disagreeing,” I say. This makes me feel slightly guilty, like I’m betraying Liam somehow, so I add, “It’s not his fault, but I don’t think Liam’s being held to the same standards we are.”

“Of course not,” Peishan says. “When girls do it, we’re being disrespectful. When boys do it, they’re being independent thinkers.”

“Leaders of tomorrow,” Zoelle adds.

“Thinking outside the box,” I say.

By now, we’re all smiling wryly at one another, and despite everything, I actually feel better. “Thanks for trying,” I say. “But really, I’d rather just lie low. I’ve had enough drama to last me the rest of the year.”

They give me sympathetic smiles. “Hey, speaking of which,” Peishan says, “what’s going on between you and Liam?”

My mouth snaps shut.

“Aww, look, she’s blushing,” Zoelle teases.

“I am not!” I snap. “There’s nothing going on between us. In fact, we’re both in a matchmaking scheme. To be matchedwith other people.” As soon as I blurt that out, I wish I could grab my words and shove them back into my big fat mouth.

They both frown at me. “A matchmaking scheme?” Peishan says, then she gasps. “Oh my god! Is that the weird app that suddenly showed up on all our iPads?”

“Um. Yes?” Oh lord, how I wish the floor would crack open and spout lava and burn all of us to a crisp. Or something less deadly.

“That’s a real thing?” Peishan says. “I thought it was a prank. I deleted the app.”

“I signed up for it,” Zoelle says.

Peishan stares at her. “What the hell, Zoey?”

“What?”

“Dude, it could’ve been malware! Or spyware!”

“But it’s not.” Zoelle turns to me. “It’s not, right?”

“Uh.” I consider this. “It’s not malware. But no promises that it doesn’t contain spyware.”

“Who’s behind it?” Peishan says.

I hesitate. “I don’t know if I can say.”

They both narrow their eyes at me. “But it’s legit, right?” Zoelle says.

“I guess? I can’t guarantee anything.”

“But you and Liam joined it.” Peishan is looking very intense right now.

I nod.

“See?” Zoelle says.

Peishan side-eyes her.

“You’re gonna be left out, girl,” Zoelle cries. “Half the girls’swim team joined already, and the whole of the gymnastics team, both the boys and girls. And the drama club too. Allthe cool kids are joining!”

“Wow, really?” I say. I assumed that most people deleted the app.

“Yeah, dude, you’re underestimating how horny most of us are,” Zoelle says. “We would’ve joined anything that promises us dates.”

I laugh at that.

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