KATI

"Hi... can I sit with you guys?" I smile, trying to sound casual as my pulse pounds in my ears. This is SO embarrassing. The boys look up at me like I'm an alien and they don't know what to say to me. David avoids my eyes and Jay has stopped chewing, his mouth still open. Gordy looks at David and kicks him under the table. David is unphased.

How embarrassing.

I glance around the room to see if anyone is looking at me. David doesn't say anything. The silence is becoming awkward so I turn and walk away .

Tears well up in my eyes and I blink them back. Why am I always feeling like crying lately? I never used to be like this before. It's suddenly hard to breathe and my chest starts to hurt. They can have their stupid club. I don't need them or anyone. I can eat lunch by myself.

I find an empty table and slam my tray down. Where on this dying planet is Mindy anyway?

I sit down and rest my elbows on the table. Then close my eyes to pray.

Thank You for this food I have to eat... Oh God, I was really beginning to like David. What happened? From now on I'm not going to like anyone, ever, except Charlie of course. I've always been fine without friends. I don't need them, or a boyfriend.

* * *

DAVID

"Why didn't you say anything?" Gordy punches me in the arm. The pain wakes me from my daze and I blink a couple times.

"I don't know," I say. "My mind went blank."

"Did you experience any loss of time?" Jay asks.

"Do you think she overheard what we were talking about? What I said about her in the red polka dot bikini?"

"You never said anything about her in a red polka dot bikini," Gordy says.

"I didn't?"

"Your mind went blank?" Jay says. "Like completely blank? Was it a white blank, or a black blank?"

"Why didn't you tell her she could sit down?" I turn to Gordy, angry now that we all sat here not saying anything like a bunch of idiots.

"Because she was talking to you."

"She was talking to all of us."

"But she wanted to know if you wanted her to sit with us. You think she wants to sit with me? Or Jay?"

My shoulders slump. "Oh."

"You didn't even make eye contact with her. What's wrong with you? I thought she was your dream girl."

"She is. That's what's wrong."

"Well, she's sitting by herself now. Go invite her to our table."

Jay raises his hand. "Can we have a vote about having her sit at our table?"

Gordy smacks his hand down and then looks at me. "Just go eat lunch over there, with her."

I look over my shoulder. Kati has her eyes closed and her hands clasped. "She's busy. I can't disturb her, she's praying. It would be rude."

"Sure you can," Gordy waves a hand at me.

"No, she'll be annoyed."

"You'll regret it if you don't."

"What am I supposed to say?"

"Apologize for not saying anything when she came over and tell her you'd like to sit with her."

"Alright," I nod, getting up. Gordy's right. She'll think I was ignoring her if I don't go now and say something. I have to stop being such a coward. I talked to her last night, sort of. Why should talking to her at school be any different?

I walk towards her table, my heart pounding. Her head is still bowed. Suddenly Rob comes out of nowhere and sits down at the table in front of Kati.

I stop walking.