Gilbert and Louis Rule the Universe: First Impressions by Rebecca Heller Page A

Rowan adds.
    “You guys are awesome, thanks,” I say as the first bell rings. I feel slightly better as we all run off to class.
    At the end of history class Mr. Jeffries calls me to stay back. I stand there shifting my weight from one foot to the other while the rest of the kids empty out of class. A few of the boys snicker at me as they walk by, assuming that I am in trouble.
    As soon as everyone had left, Mr. Jeffries says, “Leah, Jimmy has requested to change partners.”
    “Oh,” is all I can say.
    “Is there anything you want to tell me?” Mr. Jeffries asks. Mr. Jeffries is always trying to talk to kids like he is on our level. He always uses dated expressions like “I am down with that” and “that’s totally dope.” Like he is so sure he understands what we are going through. Please.
    “No,” I mumble, shake my head and keep my eyes on the floor.
    “Well, I don’t normally do this, but he was pretty upset, so I partnered him up with Allison. That means that Charles will be your partner.”
    Charles is like the dumbest kid in class. I mean, he doesn’t believe in global warming. I am so screwed.
    “Okay. Thanks.” I want to get out of there before I start to cry. Life is totally sucking.
    “Do you want to talk about it?” Mr. Jeffries asks.
    See what I mean?
    There is no way I am confiding my problems to my history teacher so I eek out a “No.”
    “Alright,” he says but looks at me like he knows I am about to lose it. Before he can say anything else I walk as quickly as I can out the door and bee-line it for the girls bathroom. I make it into one of the stalls before the tears start to roll down my cheeks. I start making those choking sobs, and quickly flush the toilet so no one can hear me. I mean, I don’t know why I am so upset about changing partners. Jimmy is so lame. But somewhere inside hurt. It is like nothing at all is going my way.
    That evening at home, when my mom is in the shower, I find my phone (she always hides it in her bedside table drawer) and secretly text Winston to say that I can’t go to the Christmas tree lighting because my grandma is going to be in town.
    I wait a few minutes and then hear a ding.
    “ Bummer,” is all it says.
     
    *   *   *
     
    The next week is the worst of my whole life. Alex and I still have to carpool, but the most we say to one another is “Hi,” when I get in the car and “Bye” when we arrive at school. Gilbert has been eating lunch these days outside with Dylan so at least I can sit in the cafeteria with the girls. The five of us still hang out together between classes and at Nutrition, but when Gilbert and I are forced to be with each other we only talk to the other girls, never to one another. When Gilbert and I are in the same place at the same time there is this weird tension in the air and it makes me kind of sick to my stomach. The girls know something is up but haven’t said anything. I am sure they talk about it among themselves, but they haven’t approached me, and I am not sure what to tell them. Gilbert and I have never really been in a fight before. Except that one time in fourth grade when her dog chewed my Barbie’s hand off, but my mom bought me a new one and then it was all better. I play out all these conversations in my head where Gilbert and I confront one another and we yell all kinds of things, but then we end up hugging and forgiving one another. But I can’t bring myself to say any of the things that I am feeling. Like, I can’t believe she is ignoring me at such a sucky time. I mean, how can she think that I was being snotty and stuck up? I was just acting the way I always act. She is the one ignoring our friendship. She is the one who is spending all her time with her new boyfriend. Argh , it makes me mad just thinking about it.
    Also, I didn’t I tell the girls about my text from Winston as he didn’t seem to express the same level of despair that I am feeling. Nor did he ask me out again. I know