Girls Acting Catty by Leslie Margolis

Dweeble winked it was completely dweeby. But when Jason did, he somehow made it look cool, and not like he had something stuck in his eye.
    I couldn’t help but smile at him. In fact, I almost winked back but stopped myself just in time. That would’ve been too dorky. I think.
    Instead, I put my plate in the sink and got out of there— fast.

chapter six
terrible t strikes again
    I t took me forever to get dressed on Monday, since I had to try on six different shirts before finding one thick enough to hide my new bra. After carefully adjusting the straps, I wiggled around in front of the mirror for a few minutes, just to be sure that everything stayed where it was supposed to stay. I also wore my bright yellow Converse All Stars with rainbow-striped laces. Sure my feet were a little loud, but I figured that would keep the focus off my chest.
    Unfortunately, my plan backfired before I even made it to first period.
    As soon as I got to school I saw Taylor sitting on a bench, sandwiched between two Terrors: Nikki and Jesse.
    When I tried to walk by, Taylor did an exaggerated double take— like a cartoon character would— and zeroed in on my shoes, asking, “What are those supposed to be?” Then she turned to Nikki and said, “Did someone forget to tell me about circus day?”
    The three of them giggled.
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” I asked.
    Taylor flipped her hair over one shoulder and grinned. “I’m just trying to figure out why you’re wearing clown shoes,” she said.
    Nikki laughed so hard she snapped a rubber band on her braces, which made Jesse crack up even more. Taylor just stared at me, like she was actually waiting for an answer.
    I stood there for a moment, stunned and frozen, my mind blank and my legs planted firmly on the ground— like they’d grown roots, or something.
    If she were a boy making fun of me, I’d use one of Pepper’s dog-training lessons, and in fact, one of them came to mind.
    Sometimes dogs act out to get attention. Ignore them until they calm down.
    Figuring this wasn’t the worst strategy, I walked away.
    Before I was even out of earshot, Jesse asked, “Oh my gosh, did you see her face?”
    Then the three of them went off again, laughing hysterically.
    I wondered if Taylor was right, and it really did look like I was wearing clown shoes. I thought about ducking into the locker room to trade my rainbow laces for the plain white ones in my PE shoes, but that seemed too obvious. I didn’t want Taylor to think I actually cared about what she thought— although obviously I did, because I stressed about it all morning.
    When Claire told me she liked my shoelaces at lunchtime, I cringed and waited for the punch line. It took a few seconds to remember that Claire was a good friend, and would never make fun of me. “Really?” I asked, just to be sure.
    â€œThey’re absolutely fierce. Primary colors are totally hot this season.”
    I trusted Claire’s opinion completely, since she cared about fashion so much and always wore cute clothes. Today she had on faded jeans with purple and blue flowers embroidered onto the back pockets— ones she’d sewn herself.
    â€œTaylor said it looks like I’m wearing clown shoes.”
    Rachel was just sitting down and overheard. “No way,” she said.
    â€œWay,” I replied, gravely.
    â€œLike her shoes are so great,” said Yumi as she unpacked her lunch.
    â€œForget her shoes, what about her jeans?” asked Rachel. “She wore those same ones three times last week.”
    â€œSo uncreative.” Claire munched on a carrot stick and turned toward Taylor’s table. “It makes me sad.”
    â€œBut she could’ve washed them.” I felt it was important to point this out, since I usually wear my favorite jeans twice in one week.
    â€œHey, how come you always defend her when she’s so mean to