Studying Boys by Stephie Davis Page B

the way he nodded. It wasn't the kind of look he ever gave me. My look was more along the lines of, "Shouldn't you be in bed by now? It's past seven o'clock."
    Colin nodded, Theo slapped him on the back and they parted ways. Theo went back to his girls and Colin walked over to us. "Sorry, Frances. He's not interested."
    "In what?"
    "Studying." Colin sat down next to me, since I'd taken his spot next to Blue. "He said he was forced to attend but that doesn't mean he has to work."
    I narrowed my eyes and tried to incinerate Theo with my gaze. No such luck. "Is that really what he said?"
    "Yeah. He said he promised his friends a fun party with no parents and that's what he's going to give them."
    What a total jerk. I watched a girl grab Theo's butt, and I wanted to run over and rip all her stupid blond hair out. I mean, I wanted to go over and staple Theo to the wall so I could scream at him for an hour about what a selfish ingrate he was.
    "Sorry," Colin said. "I tried."
    "It's okay." Blue reached around me and patted him on the shoulder. "Thanks for going over there. Theo's kind of an idiot, so don't worry about it."
    Yuck. I wasn't in the mood to be in the middle of some sort of mushy love stuff.
    I stood up and stalked across the dance floor, bumping into three flailing couples and shooting them all evil looks. Not that they cared or noticed. Yes, I felt invisible.
    George was just opening the front door when I passed through the front hall. "You're leaving?"
    "Yeah." He looked around. "This isn't my scene."
    "Mine either."
    He sort of eyed me. "Why don't you come with me? My mom can drop us off at the library and then she can give you a ride home."
    Oh, wow. Was he like asking me out on a date? Suddenly, I had goose bumps going all down my arms and my brain stopped.
    "Frances?" He peered at me. "Did you hear me?"
    I had no idea what to say. I mean, this was my first date invitation ever. I couldn't go on it without preparation! Not that George was this super cool senior or anything, but he was a guy!
    "I really should stay," I said slowly. "I'm supposed to be running this thing."
    "Oh, right. Sure. No problem."
    At that moment, some girl came running through the front hall, shrieking about something. She slammed into me, apologized, and then kept on going into the other room.
    Who was I kidding? This sucked. "Let me get my books."
    * * *
    That night, I couldn't sleep.
    It was three in the morning, and I still hadn't slept.
    I'd bailed from The Homework Club seven and a half hours ago, had a great study session with George, gotten home with my parents totally oblivious, snagged some chocolate cake, and I was still so angry at Theo I felt like I was going to explode.
    How dare he ruin everything for me? Didn't he care how important this was to me? And not just to me, to the kids at both schools. So many people were counting on this, even if they didn't know it, and he'd waltzed in there and made it a total disaster.
    I couldn't even think of enough bad words to call him.
    He was so not worthy of my love.
    He wasn't even worthy of my hatred.
    Or perhaps he was.
    Yes, he definitely was.
    I stared at the ceiling and imagined locking Theo in my basement and beating him with English books, math books, history papers. Everything I could think of until he finally realized that my life was important.
    Argh!
    I pulled my pillow over my face and screamed.
    I couldn't make The Homework Club work. Not by myself. Not with anyone's help. I had to e-mail Mr. Walker and tell him I sucked and couldn't do it. Might as well do it now. Get it over with.
    I kicked off my covers and got up, tripping over a football that Theo had once autographed for me as a joke. What was I doing with that stupid thing? I picked it up, walked over to my window and threw it outside. It landed with a thunk in the bushes.
    With any luck, a rabid dog would destroy it before the morning came and I had to see it again.
    I booted up my computer and started an e-mail to