As soon as I saw Daisy at lunch, I told her about what happened on the track with Andreas.

“Are you okay?” she said. I showed her my hands. She grimaced, then laughed. “You’re such a klutz!”

“I am not! You would’ve done the same thing if a bug flew in your hair.”

“At least you got rescued by Andreas.”

“I know, right? How’s that for getting his attention? That’s so embarrassing!”

“So, it’s day two and you’ve got cut up hands, knees, and stomach. That might be a school record. You’d better be careful tomorrow. You’re a walking hazard.”

“Oh, ha, ha.”

Her eyes moved to focus on something behind me. I turned around to find Jamie quietly standing there.

“Oh. Hi,” I said.

“I’m sorry for getting you in trouble.”

Metal shavings down his shirt was punishment enough. I couldn’t stay mad at him. “That’s okay. I’m over it. Sorry for calling you an idiot.”

Daisy raised her eyebrows.

“How are your knees?” he said. “I noticed you were limping a little.”

I looked down at my knees. “It hurts, but I’ll live.”

He took my hands in his to inspect them. They were warm and sticky. “The pain should go away in a couple of days.”

“Okay, Dr. Schweitzer,” I said, pulling my hands away from his. “Thanks for the prognosis.”

Daisy watched us, but kept quiet. Her eyes told me I would hear about this later. Behind her, I caught Andreas staring at me. We locked eyes and my heart jumped. He dropped his gaze, but I kept my eyes on him. Was he really looking at me?

Jamie and Daisy turned to see what I was looking at.

“So!” I said, forcing them to look back at me. “Guess what happened to me in the restroom?”

They quickly turned around to look at me.

Jamie lifted an eyebrow. “Nothing gross, I hope.”

“We’re eating!” said Daisy laughing.

“No, no! Not that!” I said. “Paige offered me some ointment and Band-Aids for my scrapes, then told me I should try out for cheerleading. She said she’d put in a good word for me.”

“What? Really?” said Daisy. “Just like that?”

“Yeah, really. Just like that.”

Jamie drew his eyebrows together. “You want to be a cheerleader?”

“No,” I said. “I just thought it was weird that she asked me.”

“So you’re not going to try out?” said Daisy.

“No way! Are you kidding?” I made a face. “Can you picture me in that uniform?”

Jamie looked up into the air. “Yes.”

I gave him an annoyed look.

“What do you think about me trying out?” said Daisy.

I lowered my sandwich and thought about it. “I guess I could see you doing that. If that’s what you really want.”

“Well, who would you sit with at lunch if you got in?” asked Jamie. “Paige or Lilah?”

Daisy and I looked at each other.

“I would sit with Lilah, of course,” said Daisy. “She’s my best friend. We could probably both sit at the Wall if we wanted to.” A faraway look came over her face.

“Or Lilah could sit with me if she didn’t want to go to the Wall,” he said as he looked at me and then away.

Daisy raised her eyebrows and blinked several times.

“It hasn’t even happened yet, you guys,” I said. “We’ll figure it out when we get there.”

I finished my food and wondered when Jamie was going to leave, if ever.

Daisy and I looked at each other. It was time for us to scope out the guys.

“We’re going to walk around,” I said, rising to my feet. Daisy followed suit.

“Oh. Okay,” said Jamie. He stood up and looked at us expectantly. I felt sorry for him.

“Do you want to come?” I said. Daisy stood behind me and pinched my arm, but I moved it away and ignored her.

“Okay.” His face lit up. He went to throw his trash away while we waited.

“What the hell are you doing?” Daisy hissed at me.

“I felt sorry for him,” I whispered back. “It’s just this once.”

She rolled her eyes and pouted.

I glanced back at Andreas and saw him staring at me again. That was twice! I smiled at him, but he didn’t smile back. He turned back to his conversation with Pete. Jerk!

It wasn’t the same with Jamie around. We couldn’t comment on the cute guys in front of him. Daisy kept shooting me dirty looks. When we saw a cute guy, we nudged each other and stared at him. We waited to see if we got his attention, then we moved on. Some did and some didn’t. It was a game we liked to play for the thrill of it. Having Jamie around definitely hindered our progress.

“What do you guys keep looking at?” said Jamie.

“Nothing,” I said. “We just like to see what everyone is doing.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s interesting.”

He rolled his eyes. “You guys are weird. Is this what you do every day?”

Daisy and I looked at each other. I laughed nervously.

As we approached the Wall, Jamie slowed down.

“Let’s go back,” he said.

“Why?” said Daisy, annoyed. “If you want to hang with us, just follow.”

I looked back at him. “What’s wrong?”

He lowered his voice and said, “Trey’s over there. He doesn’t like me much.” I looked at Trey. He was looking at us, arms crossed over his chest, and smirking. Marco watched us with curiosity.

“Does he pick on you?” I whispered.

“Sort of. More like insults me when people aren’t looking.”

I rubbed his arm in sympathy, then I put my arm in his and steered him in the opposite direction. “Join the club.”

“You, too?” he whispered.

I nodded.

“Where are you guys going?” said Daisy still standing there. “Lilah!”

“He doesn’t want to go over there,” I said.

She huffed and crossed her arms. “We’re not going to sit with them!”

“He doesn’t like Trey.”

Daisy looked at Jamie. “What’s wrong with Trey? He’s nice.” She paused. “Wait. Has Lilah been talking to you about Trey?”

“Never mind,” said Jamie. “I don’t want you to get into a fight over this. I have something I need to do, anyway.” He turned to leave and I grabbed his arm.

“Jamie, wait,” I said. “We don’t have to go over there.”

He looked at me in surprise.

“Lilah!” said Daisy.

He looked at her and then back at me. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He turned and walked toward the cafeteria.

“Jamie!” I called after him.

“Forget him,” said Daisy. “He doesn’t want to come with us. You shouldn’t have invited him anyway. What were you thinking?”

“I felt bad for him.” I watched as he disappeared into the cafeteria.

Trey was looking at us and smirking. I glared at him and then at Marco. Daisy didn’t seem to notice. She was only looking at Marco and thought he was looking at her.

Trey still had that stupid smirk on his face when he saw me in Algebra 2. Trisha and Marco walked in behind him. I gave Trey a dirty look and went back to reading my History book.

“Hey, Lilah, did you have a fight with your boyfriend at lunch today?” he said. He looked at Trisha and they snickered.

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I said glowering at him. He totally baited me and I fell for it. I should’ve just ignored him.

“Really?” he said. “Well, I’m sure he’ll come around. You’d make a good match.” More snickers.

“Leave her alone,” said Marco.

Trey smirked at Marco and turned back to me. “Hey, since you’re into dorks, why don’t you go out with Marco here?”

“I don’t want to go out with Marco!” I blurted.

Marco looked at me, embarrassed and hurt.

“Trey, don’t you know when to shut up?” he said standing up. He put his foot on his chair as if he was about to step over his desk to get to Trey, but Trey put his hands up in defense.

“Okay, okay,” said Trey laughing. “Take it easy.”

Trisha giggled.

Marco sat back down. I gave them all dirty looks and closed my History book.

Ms. Yoshida was about to start her lesson. She handed out thick packets of Algebra 2 equations that we were supposed to go over in class. Marco turned around to hand me a packet. I glared at him as I took it. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but shut it again and turned back around.

I flipped through the packet. It looked complicated. I chewed on my lower lip and frowned. Numbers were not my strong point. Millie was making a face as she went through the packet. She looked just as worried and confused as I was.

Ms. Yoshida went over the equations in the packet. It was as complicated as I thought they would be. Millie and I exchanged confused looks.

When class was over, Marco turned around to face me.

“I’m sorry about Trey,” he said quietly.

“Forget it,” I said as I gathered my things and put them in my backpack.

“Let’s go, Marco,” said Trey.

Marco looked at Trey and back at me. He stood up.

“Are you ready?” said Trisha.

“Yeah,” said Marco. He looked at me once more before he turned and followed them out the door.

To avoid them, I left through the other door and went straight to my locker. I scowled all the way. It was going to be a painful school year with those three in my class, not to mention the classwork. I grabbed what I needed from my locker and headed home.