My Year of Epic Rock by Andrea Pyros Page B

back with her hand. Maybe she felt babyish too. Shelley and Brianna both said hi, but Brianna didn’t shuffle over to make room for us to squeeze in next to her, so I stood awkwardly instead, watching the second hand on the big wall clock tick along until first period started, trying to focus on what Jody was saying instead of worrying about what I was missing.
    Feeling so stupid and hanger-on-y was why when I got to the cafeteria for lunch later that same day, I’d already made myself a promise that I’d sit anywhere besides at Brianna and Shelley’s table. Even eating alone was looking like a better alternative.
    Almost.
    When I got inside, I wasn’t sure what my plan was, but then I saw Tiernan and everyone else at the peanut-free table. I walked over and stood there shyly until they noticed me.
    â€œYo, Nina.” Tiernan slid his tray over to make room for me, and I sat down between him and Madison.
    â€œHey,” I said. “Hi, Madison.”
    â€œNina, wait, you’re allergic to eggs, right? Hang on.” Madison took out a wipe from her backpack and cleaned off the table where she’d been sitting. “Mayo,” she explained. I noticed that each of her fingernails was painted in a different mega-bright Day-Glo color, which matched the rubber bands holding her braids.
    â€œOh, thanks. You didn’t have to do that,” I said, putting my brown bag down on the shiny, still-wet table. I was surprised. No one ever remembers what I’m allergic to in the first place, and the few that do wouldn’t even realize mayonnaise has eggs. They’re all like, “Oh, wait, you can’t have this?” or “But I thought you couldn’t drink milk,” or “Can you eat chicken?” “Don’t you wish you could have an omelet? That’s sooooo sad that you can’t.”
    It’s annoying.
    â€œI don’t mind,” she said. “Not a big deal.”
    â€œWhat’s going on?” I asked, to no one person in particular.
    â€œWe’re talking about doing something for the Halloween Talent Show,” said Shane. “I say it would be cool. At my old school, everyone got into our talent show. It was huge, and there were judges there who worked at record labels and everything.”
    Heidi laughed and made a face. “That’s New York City though. There’s no way it’s going to be a big deal here, Shane. Usually it’s really small and a lot of people don’t even go.”
    â€œSo what?” Shane shrugged. “We could make it major.”
    Just then I heard a scream of “No way!” I turned to see Shelley giving Brianna a big hug—and they were both laughing super loud. My stomach felt funny again.
    â€œWe should start a band and name it The EpiPens,” I said, turning away from Bri, acting like I didn’t care about what she was doing or thinking. “I mean, half of us have to carry them around anyway. Might as well make a joke out of the stupid things.”
    Bringing my EpiPen with me everywhere I went was like having a stupid pimple that never went away! Besides, like I was going to have the guts to stab myself with a giant needle in the leg if I ate something I was allergic to anyway. Wouldn’t I be too busy barfing or fainting or something else awful to be my own doctor?
    â€œDude, yes! Awesome idea!” Shane said, putting down his weird drink box so hard some of it splashed back out onto his retro band T-shirt. “Who’s with us? Who here can play an instrument anyway?”
    â€œMe,” said Tiernan. “The guitar.”
    Madison was laughing. “Does the flute count?”
    â€œOh, you know it,” said Shane. “Heidi, what can you play?”
    â€œNothing, really,” said Heidi, picking at a slice of orange.
    â€œThat’s not true,” Tiernan said. “You have an awesome voice. You’re the only one in music class who