“Don’t want to hear it, then. Just play the game.” Her eyes remained glued to the clipboard.
Those words, so similar to the ones she’d used a few weeks before, burned hotter than my cheeks. I went from feeling the heat of shame to the flame of irritation.
“I’m not sick,” I said, and crossed my arms. “And I’m not trying to get out of class.” That got her attention. She shifted her gaze from the clipboard to me. Jaw tight, eyebrows furrowed, she waited to hear what the next excuse would be. I held my sweaty fist out to her and gulped. “I just wanted to apologize for ruining your shoes.” I opened my hand and revealed the slick gift card stuck to its soggy backing. My palm
did
have a distinct green tint to it.
“Oh.” Her expression smoothed into one of surprise. “Thank you, Celeste.” She reached for the gift card, and although a flicker of distaste at its damp texture crossed her face, her wide smile more than made up for it. A weight that I wasn’t even aware I’d been carrying disappeared.
I smiled back. “You’re welcome.”
“And good work filling out those food logs. You’re the only one who did them consistently, and turned in the extra-credit ones. It shows.”
My smile stretched even wider. “Thanks.”
“Now get to your game. Girls!” she shouted around me. “I’d better see some soccer soon, otherwise you’ll be running laps.”
Heart slowing, hands drying, I crossed the field, back to my team.
And one thing I noticed? Coach’s infamous tracksuit hadn’t smelled bad at all.
Chapter 27
AFTER WE FINISHED our game, I met Millie and Katy on the walk back to the locker room. They wanted to know what I’d been talking to Coach Anapoli about, but I shrugged them off. As I was changing the subject, there was a sharp poke in my back.
“Hey,” Lively said, appearing at my side. “Where’s Sandra?”
“How should we know,” Katy replied. “You’re the one who’s glued to her all the time.”
Lively narrowed her eyes. Her ant-friends gathered behind her, eager to hear whatever taunts she’d fling. “I wasn’t
talking
to you,” she said through gritted teeth. “I’d never talk to you.”
“You just did,” Millie said, smirking. She turned to me. “Don’t you think Lively is looking a little . . . uneven today?”
Confusion dotted Lively’s friends’ expressions—and mine too, I’m sure. But I caught on fast. I gave Katy and Millie a huge grin.
“Absolutely.”
A flash of panic crossed Lively’s face, then she was back to her Mask of Superiority. She had probably decided that ignoring the comments was the best way to deal with the situation. She directed her question back to me. “Well, where is she?”
“Dunno,” I said. “I told her I didn’t want to hang out with her anymore.” At this point, we had arrived at the locker room. Millie and Katy, probably surprised at my announcement, stopped short just inside the doorway and gave me identical wide-eyed expressions. Lively, seeing that we didn’t have the information she needed, flounced past us to change before the bell. As she did, I heard her mutter something to one of her ant-friends about going to Sandra’s house for dinner, and how Sandra
had
to be okay because she thought “he was getting off work early” and would be there.
That was when everything made sense. Lively’s sudden interest in Sandra . . . the comments that Kirsten had been making . . . Sandra’s complaint about where Lively liked to hang out in the mall . . . Lively had a crush on Sandra’s brother Geoff! The realization hit me in a wave, causing me to stop halfway to my locker. I shook my head.
Wait ’til Millie and Katy hear this,
I thought. Unlike my Secret Gift Card Delivery,
that
was something worth explaining.
Until I got home, I’d forgotten that Mom wanted me to go to the mall with her. She was ready as soon as I got in the door, keys in hand, barely letting me put my bag down before ushering me to the car.
“I promised your aunt that I’d be back in time to help her finish the seating chart,” she explained, hustling me more effectively than Coach Anapoli ever had.
Had she taken lessons from Christian?
I thought as we sped away. I still wasn’t clear on what we needed.
Once we arrived at the mall, though, it was obvious. She ushered me straight to The Lace Slipper, the “unmentionables” store on the second level.
“Mom!” I said as we entered.
“I want to make sure you have a strapless bra that fits you properly,” she explained. “You need it for your bridesmaid dress.” I rolled my eyes.
I needed it two weeks ago at the HuskyPeach,
I wanted to reply. Instead, I stayed quiet. Why make this any worse than it had to be?
It got worse.
The grandmotherly saleslady was very “hands-on,” insisting on coming into the dressing room with me with an armful of underwire, elastic, and lace. “See?” she said, spinning me to face the hated mirror. “This one doesn’t have large enough cups. You’re overflowing.” I nodded my head, avoiding my reflection.
Even Violet sticking her hands down my top wasn’t this awkward.
It took five bras to find the one that made the saleslady happy. She praised the boning and the “uplift,” while I praised the end of the ordeal. Mom took the purchase to the cash register and I fled to the front of the store.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Mom asked on our way out. I shot her my Annoyed Look, but she wasn’t paying attention. “I also thought we might want to pick out some new clothes for you, as another reward for the positive changes you’ve made recently.”
Inside, I groaned.
Oh, come on,
Red Bathing Suit Woman chided.
It’s not going to be like it usually is—promise.
You’d better be right.
I exhaled. “Fine. Let’s get a few things.”
We went into the HuskyPeach, where a big sign outside the door advertised the San Francisco fashion show.
“I just wish you’d reconsider.” She sighed, then stopped, examining the sign with a sad expression.
“No way,” I said, tugging her arm to get her moving. What little shopping enthusiasm I’d mustered drooped.
Mom cruised the racks, pulling out several jewel-toned shirts and a couple of pairs of pants. This time, most of the stuff I tried on fit me better, and we even agreed on three shirts and one pair of pants. At the cash register, Mom took the bag from the saleslady like she was receiving a trophy. I guess, in a way, we both were.
Before we reached the mall exit closest to our car, she stopped again, this time in front of the Catch ’N’ Kick.
“I need to run in here for one second. Ben needs a wrap for his elbow before his next game.”
“Mom—” I protested, but she was already inside. I sighed, then followed.
The big bin of tennis balls was still in the middle of the store. I parked myself there, watching Mom approach Geoff at the counter, humming along to the mall-music version of “Dreaming Without You.” Geoff waved at me and flashed a big smile. I smiled and waved back.
It’s easy to see why Lively has a crush on him,
I thought.
Why anyone would.
As I finished the thought, I heard the chatty, giggling commotion that signaled the arrival of a certain group of girls. When I turned, the Blond Ponytail Brigade was bopping into the store. They huddled at the front, around the baseball jerseys. I turned away. Geoff was leading Mom in my direction.
“They’re right over here,” he said, “in the tennis section.” After he pointed her to the appropriate display, he faced me. “Hey Celeste,” he said.
“Hey,” I responded, staring at my shoes. Behind me, the giggling got louder. I peeked up at Geoff. He stared over my head, eyes narrowed. He blinked down to me. Silence. Not a giggle to be heard.
“Haven’t seen you at the house lately,” he said. I shrugged, watching the floor, playing with the tie on my wrap shirt. “Everything okay?”
I nodded. He put his hand on my shoulder and bent down close to me. Inside, my belly wiggled. “You look really good, Celeste. Keep it up.” Then he straightened.
Between the warmth of his hand and his words, I thought I would explode from pride and embarrassment. But the tingly feeling didn’t last long.
I felt the eyes on me like hot coals before I turned around. Lively stood on the far side of a rack of tennis dresses.
“Hi, Geoff?” she purred, drawing her blond ponytail over one shoulder.
Bet she’s seen that in a movie,
Red Bathing Suit Woman said.
“Sandra, um, she wasn’t in school today, so I was wondering if she’s okay?”
“Did you call her?” he asked. His voice sounded detached, like he didn’t want to talk, but was out of politeness. He didn’t look at her.
“Uh, well, I was going to,” Lively said, ignoring my presence, “but I didn’t want to disturb her if she was actually, you know, sick. So I thought I’d ask you.” She stepped closer to him. Geoff backed up.
She didn’t wait for him to respond. “I had something else to ask you,” she said. Her attention flickered in my direction. “But it’s private.”
“I’m working,” Geoff said, his voice gruff. I saw his shoulders stiffen under his green Catch ’N’ Kick shirt.
Lively put on a huge, sunny fake smile. “I know. But it’s important. I thought, maybe, one day, we could—”
“Honey,” Mom said to me, interrupting Lively, elbow wrap in her hand, “I’ve got it. Let’s go.” She moved in the direction of the cash register.
“Bye, Mrs. Harris,” Geoff said. “We could what?” he directed at Lively. Exasperation wafted from him in a cloud.
Lively shifted from foot to foot, clearly flustered. Half of me wanted to witness her next move, but the other half knew I’d seen enough already—more than she wanted me to, that’s for sure.
I stepped away from the tennis ball bin but didn’t get very far. The tie on my wrap shirt had somehow twisted around the metal cage when I was playing with it. Not wanting to draw attention to myself, I tried to subtly untangle it. No dice. Plus, I was still between Geoff and Lively. And I guess she decided that she had to go through with her plan, whether or not I watched.
“Umm, go . . .” she began, trying to find the words.
I busied myself with my predicament, this time giving the shirt a firmer tug.
“Celeste, do you need help with that?” Geoff said. He sounded relieved to have something to do. He came closer.
“Out. Somewhere. Or hang out,” Lively blurted.
She did
not
just do that!
Before I could process my shock, Lively took a step in my direction. Her expression switched back and forth from fear to fury. Geoff ’s attention was solely on me. My face burned. Although no longer afraid of Lively, I certainly didn’t need to hand her ammunition.
“Oh, I get it,” Geoff said, like he hadn’t even heard her, studying the bin as though it was the most interesting piece of store equipment he’d ever seen. “You’ve gotten wrapped around the gate.” His hand slid between the bin and me, and a thrill shot through me at being so close to him. “I’m just going to slide this open and you’ll be all set. A couple of the tennis balls might slip out, so be careful.”
Lively’s glare, which I could see over Geoff’s head, would have turned Medusa to stone. I heard the click of a latch, then my shirt pulled tight, and all at once I was free.
Geoff must not have secured the gate properly, however, because as I stepped away an avalanche of green tennis balls bounced from the bin.
“Whoa!” Geoff said, trying to close the gate. “Be careful.” He latched it, stopping the Green Tide, but tennis balls rolled every which way around the floor. Lively mouthed
cow
at me while his back was turned.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, feeling responsible.
“Not your fault,” Geoff said. “I’ll just scoop these up; it’s no problem.” He smiled again.
Did he let them loose to avoid dealing with Little Miss Ponytail Stalker?
Red Bathing Suit Woman whispered.
Think so,
was my response.
“I’ll help!” Lively called, probably wanting another shot at asking Geoff out. Her gaggle of girls, which had slipped farther into the store, nodded in agreement. They scrambled for tennis balls.
“Really, it’s not—” Geoff began, but he was too late. It was a neon green Easter egg hunt—the girls weaved through racks and peeked under displays to find the balls. I just wanted to get to my mom at the cash register and get out of there.
“It’s no problem,” Lively said, struggling to keep her eyes on Geoff while she picked up tennis balls. “I like helping out.” She backed up, scooping them into her arms, not paying attention where she was going.
It happened the same way it would in a movie.
Like in slow motion, I saw her foot land squarely on a tennis ball and the shock flash across her face as she realized she was losing balance. Her arms flailed, releasing the five or six balls she’d gathered, sending them bouncing in front of her. She clutched the nearest clothing rack. I thought she regained her balance, but instead it just changed her direction. She fell facedown, right on top of some of the renegade balls.
“Are you okay?” Geoff said. He rushed to her side.
“I—I think so.” Lively sniffed, her cheeks scarlet.
Geoff held out a hand to help her up, which she gratefully took. Glad, I was sure, to be rescued by her Knight in Green Catch ’N’ Kick Uniform.
As she stood, she revealed the full extent of the damage. Smack in the middle of Lively’s now-flat chest were two big wet spots. Geoff ’s eyes were immediately drawn to them, as were mine and those belonging to the crowd of ant-friends and other shoppers who had gathered as witnesses to Lively’s fall. The Red Bathing Suit Woman cackled.
Realization did not come swiftly.
“What? I’m okay,” Lively said. She smoothed her hair and went to straighten her shirt.
“Did you drop a bottle of water?” I asked. I couldn’t help myself.