KATI

"Come on..." I grumble to myself, trying my lock combination again. What is wrong with me this morning? This is so stupid. David's not even around and I'm still nervous. I stop turning my lock suddenly. Oh no... am I becoming boy crazy? Like Shawna and the other popular girls? Will I be giggling at every stupid thing David says and printing off photos of him to tape in my locker?

No! I pull on my lock and open it. I'm just emotional from having such a crazy day yesterday, that's all, with the washroom incident, then David coming over, then Charlie going missing. I slam my locker door open and throw in my back pack and jacket, then get my books for first class.

My legs feel wobbly as I walk to class. David will be there. He was in my class yesterday too but I didn't even notice then. I clutch my books to my chest. I really need to relax.

When I step into the room and the first person I see is David. He's in his desk at the back corner of the room. I grip my books tight. I'll just walk over and say hi. Suddenly he looks up, right at me, and I quickly turn and go to my desk instead, then slump down in my seat.

Mr. Madzella hands out math practice sheets and everyone groans. We work on them all morning, and every time I look over at David he isn't looking at me. When the bell rings, he gets up from his seat and rushes out of the room. My heart sinks. Well, it's not like we're actually friends. I get up from my desk.

At lunchtime I don't feel like eating. My stomach feels queasy when I think about the whole t-shirt thing, even though it seems everyone has already forgotten about it.

I push my way through the crowd to find a table, holding my tray tight so my food doesn't get knocked off of it. I look around. Where is Mindy? The girls don't always sit at the exact same table every lunch, depending on whether the volley ball team girls have practice or not and who gets here first. But I don't see Mindy or the girls anywhere. I walk all around in a big circle, looking for a place to sit. There are some spots but with groups that I don't belong to. I grip my lunch bag tight, my cheeks heating up as people start to look at me after my second round walking around the cafeteria. I need to sit down, fast.

I spot David and his friends sitting together. They don't notice me and talk close together as though they have some big secret they're really excited about.

I pass by them. By now the tables are all full and I have nowhere to sit. I look back at David and Gordy and the other guy, whose name I can't remember. They look friendly enough. I close my eyes for a moment to gather my courage. I can do this. They're just boys and they're not mean or rude like the football guys. I square my shoulders and walk back to their table.