Just Kidding by Annie Bryant Page B

of Mean, who were looking directly at her with their piercing eyes. The pair looked like movie horror queens, ready to pounce on their next victim.
    Suddenly, Isabel didn’t feel hungry anymore. “Look,” she murmured, “I was in the art room when Amanda stomped in looking for Kevin. Kevin and I had been talking about art stuff, and Amanda burst into the room, furious, and the two of them started fighting right in front of me. When I left the room, Anna and Joline were right there, and Anna made some comment about Kevin being one of my art projects. You know Anna, she’ll spread any gossip she can, even if it isn’t true.”
    â€œWell, what actually happened then? I mean…since you heard everything,” Maeve probed.
    Isabel looked uncomfortable. “I don’t want to repeat it. It was supposed to be just between Amanda and Kevin.”
    â€œI can’t believe those two,” Katani fumed. “You and Kevin have every right to have a normal conversation. What did you guys talk about anyway?”
    Isabel couldn’t help flushing. “Well, the truth is…it was kind of nice to talk to him. He’s really interested in art. You should see the fish he’s making with bottle caps, it’s…it’s…” Isabel, searching for a word, threw her armswide. “It’s…incredible and sparkly…and it’s so easy to talk to him about it.”
    â€œKevin Connors is really into art and he did something sparkly ? Now that’s a surprise,” Katani reflected.
    â€œWell, it’s true,” Isabel confirmed. She was beginning to feel better and took some bites of her salad.
    â€œSo, what’s the deal then?” Avery asked.
    â€œAvery! Didn’t you hear me? We’re friends. Just friends. We had one little conversation about his project and my project.”
    â€œYeah, but what about the laugh-a-thon? You two practically fell over just now in the lunch line,” Avery sputtered in between bites of her sandwich.
    â€œCan guys and girls be just friends?” Maeve wondered. “Doesn’t romance always get in the way? I know for me it does….”
    â€œOf course they can!” Avery declared. “There’s lots of things dudes and girls can do together and just have a good time, like going to a Red Sox game or bowling or ice skating or something.”
    â€œLike your friend Dillon picking you up in the hallway and embarrassing you in front of everybody?” Katani joked.
    â€œThat was wicked annoying,” Avery admitted. “But usually Dillon and I do stuff like play sports together and hang out and talk at school or at Montoya’s, and we are definitely not romantic.” Avery stressed the last three words slowly and made a gagging noise to top it off.
    â€œWell, I think you’re right,” Katani conceded. “Even when boys act like total fools, the truth is, you should beable to get along with them. And if you don’t treat guys like real people, how can you ever decide whether you want to get closer to them and be their girlfriend? I think you have to start with whether you just like them or not as people. I think I’m against this swoony crush stuff. It just makes everyone crazy.”
    â€œWell, I don’t think it’s possible,” Maeve announced. “Seems like that chemistry thing always gets in the way. A guy and a girl start just talking , and the next thing you know, they’re going out, and it’s bye-bye friendship. And if it doesn’t happen, one of them gets a crush on the other and gets hurt if the other person doesn’t like them back.”
    Isabel sighed. “Well, today I just feel like I’m trapped in some tacky soap opera. All we need are some glam costumes and cheesy music. I really don’t like having everybody watch every move I make; it’s like being in a huge fishbowl!”
    â€œIt’s not that