cuts in Kristin. “You can’t possibly join anything they’re in. What’s everybody going to think?”
“I don’t care what everybody thinks,” lies Sicilee. She raises her chin just enough to show that she is above the petty, transient concerns of lesser mortals. “What I care about is the planet, you know? Because it’s, like, the only one we have?”
Ash, Loretta and Kristin all raise their eyes to the heavens (metaphorically, of course, since there is a ceiling above them) and groan. Sure you do…
It is one of Sicilee’s great talents to be able to flounce without actually moving. “Well, maybe you haven’t heard, but everybody says the planet’s going to totally die if we don’t do something.”
“That means turn off the lights when you leave a room, not become a social outcast,” says Loretta.
“Oh, please… I’m not joining . I’m just checking it out. There is no way I’m going to become a social outcast just because I go to one measly meeting.” It is Sicilee who decides what is in and what is cool at Clifton Springs, not other people. They wouldn’t dare. “And even if I did, Loretta, then maybe there are more important things in life than just being popular? Did you ever think of that?”
They all know, of course, that there is nothing more important than popularity (unless it’s money or fame). The other girls explode in shrill howls of laughter. They’ve never given even the most passing thought to the possibility that there might be something more important.
Only Kristin doesn’t laugh. Kristin has a serious, uncomfortable look on her face – as though her underwear is cutting into her. Kristin is thinking. What could possibly be more important to Sicilee than being popular? There’s only one thing. One thing that has dominated every late-night phone conversation with Sicilee for nearly a week. “Ohmigod…” wails Kristin, too surprised to remember she’s been sworn to secrecy. “It’s him, isn’t it? Cody Lightfoot! He’s going to be there!” Yet more proof, if proof were needed, of Kristin’s considerable deductive skills.
Sicilee wanted to keep her obsession with Cody Lightfoot a secret from Ash and Loretta for as long as possible because Ash and Loretta have bigger mouths than a humpback whale and she doesn’t want the whole world to know about it before Cody actually asks her out. But she sees now that there is no point in trying to pretend that she doesn’t know what Kristin’s talking about. Better her friends know the truth than that they think she’s lost her mind.
“Well.” She shrugs. “I did overhear him say something about it.”
Ash giggles with relief. “Well, why didn’t you say so? I mean, that I get. He is, like, totally awesome.”
“Now that makes sense,” agrees Loretta. “He’s the hottest thing in this school next to the boiler.”
“God, Sicilee…” Kristin laughs. “You really had me worried for a minute.”
Chapter Twelve
Desperate times call for desperate measures
“Come again?” Alice cups a hand to her ear and leans towards Maya. “I know it couldn’t possibly be true, but I thought that I heard you say you’re going to hang out with the Geek Squad this afternoon instead of coming home with me.”
“Hello? Hello?” Maya calls into the pretend horn. “Is anybody there?”
Alice jumps back, laughing. “You don’t have to shout, Maya. I’m not deaf.”
“Are you sure?” asks Maya. “I mean, I did tell you Cody’s going to the Environmental Club meeting.”
“Uh huh.” Alice nods. “But you didn’t say anything about you going.”
“Well… duh …” says Maya. “I didn’t think I had to.” It’s not as if Maya’s been keeping how she feels about Cody a secret from Alice. “I thought that it was kind of glaringly self-evident, you know?”
“You did?” Alice looks puzzled for a second, then slaps her forehead as though several very large (and possibly environmentally unfriendly)
“I don’t care what everybody thinks,” lies Sicilee. She raises her chin just enough to show that she is above the petty, transient concerns of lesser mortals. “What I care about is the planet, you know? Because it’s, like, the only one we have?”
Ash, Loretta and Kristin all raise their eyes to the heavens (metaphorically, of course, since there is a ceiling above them) and groan. Sure you do…
It is one of Sicilee’s great talents to be able to flounce without actually moving. “Well, maybe you haven’t heard, but everybody says the planet’s going to totally die if we don’t do something.”
“That means turn off the lights when you leave a room, not become a social outcast,” says Loretta.
“Oh, please… I’m not joining . I’m just checking it out. There is no way I’m going to become a social outcast just because I go to one measly meeting.” It is Sicilee who decides what is in and what is cool at Clifton Springs, not other people. They wouldn’t dare. “And even if I did, Loretta, then maybe there are more important things in life than just being popular? Did you ever think of that?”
They all know, of course, that there is nothing more important than popularity (unless it’s money or fame). The other girls explode in shrill howls of laughter. They’ve never given even the most passing thought to the possibility that there might be something more important.
Only Kristin doesn’t laugh. Kristin has a serious, uncomfortable look on her face – as though her underwear is cutting into her. Kristin is thinking. What could possibly be more important to Sicilee than being popular? There’s only one thing. One thing that has dominated every late-night phone conversation with Sicilee for nearly a week. “Ohmigod…” wails Kristin, too surprised to remember she’s been sworn to secrecy. “It’s him, isn’t it? Cody Lightfoot! He’s going to be there!” Yet more proof, if proof were needed, of Kristin’s considerable deductive skills.
Sicilee wanted to keep her obsession with Cody Lightfoot a secret from Ash and Loretta for as long as possible because Ash and Loretta have bigger mouths than a humpback whale and she doesn’t want the whole world to know about it before Cody actually asks her out. But she sees now that there is no point in trying to pretend that she doesn’t know what Kristin’s talking about. Better her friends know the truth than that they think she’s lost her mind.
“Well.” She shrugs. “I did overhear him say something about it.”
Ash giggles with relief. “Well, why didn’t you say so? I mean, that I get. He is, like, totally awesome.”
“Now that makes sense,” agrees Loretta. “He’s the hottest thing in this school next to the boiler.”
“God, Sicilee…” Kristin laughs. “You really had me worried for a minute.”
Chapter Twelve
Desperate times call for desperate measures
“Come again?” Alice cups a hand to her ear and leans towards Maya. “I know it couldn’t possibly be true, but I thought that I heard you say you’re going to hang out with the Geek Squad this afternoon instead of coming home with me.”
“Hello? Hello?” Maya calls into the pretend horn. “Is anybody there?”
Alice jumps back, laughing. “You don’t have to shout, Maya. I’m not deaf.”
“Are you sure?” asks Maya. “I mean, I did tell you Cody’s going to the Environmental Club meeting.”
“Uh huh.” Alice nods. “But you didn’t say anything about you going.”
“Well… duh …” says Maya. “I didn’t think I had to.” It’s not as if Maya’s been keeping how she feels about Cody a secret from Alice. “I thought that it was kind of glaringly self-evident, you know?”
“You did?” Alice looks puzzled for a second, then slaps her forehead as though several very large (and possibly environmentally unfriendly)
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